Performance Upgrade Research Articles

Exergy Analysis of Gas Turbine Open Cycle with Pressure Gain Combustion Based on Humphrey Cycle

Abstract This paper describes an exergy comparison of the pressure gain combustion (PGC) gas turbine (GT) with conventional GT. PGC has recently emerged as a promising approach to achieve major performance improvements in the current gas turbines operating on the Joule cycle, where the potential for major performance upgrades has nearly plateaued. However, the inherently unsteady and periodic nature of this combustion technology presents challenges in modelling the PGC process and understanding its impact on the cycle. In this work, PGC is represented by a steady-state model of constant volume combustion based on the Humphrey cycle, along with a constant pressure combustion loss model for capturing practical losses. Exergy performance was analysed in terms of exergy destruction for three air-cooled GT cycles with different combustors: a conventional isobaric combustor, an optimistic PGC combustor with no losses and a realistic PGC combustor with losses. Gas turbine cycles were modelled in WTEMP (Web-based Thermo-Economic Modular Program) software, a modular and flexible cycle analysis tool developed by TPG at the University of Genova. Simulations were performed at compressor pressure ratios from 5 to 40 at turbine inlet temperatures of TIT=1300°C and TIT=1700°C, and results were analysed in terms of exergy destruction and exergy efficiency. It was found that a PGC combustor with optimistic losses recovers more exergy than a conventional combustor due to pressure gain. At a cycle pressure ratio of 20 and 1700°C TIT, the PGC combustor with a pressure ratio of 1.35 resulted in an exergy efficiency of 79.6% compared to 77.9% of the Joule combustor. However, with realistic loss from inlet pressure drop and constant pressure combustion in the PGC combustor, the PGC combustor showed higher irreversibility than conventional combustor but the overall benefit on the cycle was retained at low compressor pressure ratios. Moreover, the percentage increase in turbine irreversibility from blade cooling was found to be slightly lower for the PGC cycle as compared to Joule.

Application of Smart Polymer Materialsarts

With the wide application of polymer materials, the performance of ordinary polymer materials gradually cannot meet the shortcomings of use in special environments, such as limited strength, insufficient wear resistance, poor stability and so on. And can not adjust and repair according to changes in the environment. Therefore, the demand for intelligent polymer materials has gradually expanded, and has been applied to a variety of fields after research. This paper introduces the information and application of three kinds of intelligent polymer materials: targeting, shape memory and self-healing. Targeting is mainly used in cancer or other diseases that require precise drug delivery; The characteristics of shape memory can be applied to plaster and surgical sutures in the medical field, and can also be applied to the performance upgrade of traditional manufacturing industry. Self-healing can be used to improve the service life of composite materials by using different methods according to the requirements of different material use scenarios.

Transforming HR through Analytics: A Study of Performance Improvement Initiatives Driven by Data

ABSTRACT This study examines the transformative impact of facts analytics on Human Resources (HR) practices, especially focusing on overall performance development tasks. As agencies more and more apprehend the value of data-pushed choice-making, HR analytics has emerged as a strategic tool for reinforcing talent control, worker engagement, and ordinary organizational overall performance. By studying case research and empirical data, this studies identifies the important thing blessings of HR analytics, such as stepped forward recruitment processes, better employee retention, and heightened engagement ranges. However, the take a look at also addresses the challenges related to implementing analytics in HR, together with facts nice, change management, and talent gaps. Ultimately, the findings spotlight the need for HR professionals to include a facts-driven culture and invest in analytics abilities to reap sustained performance upgrades. This paper serves as a manual for companies in search of to leverage analytics for more suitable HR effects and strategic alignment.

Fuzzy Logic Model for Selection of Performance Upgrade Alternatives in Remanufacturing: Case of Brake Caliper Component

Fuzzy Logic Model for Selection of Performance Upgrade Alternatives in Remanufacturing: Case of Brake Caliper Component

Iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon catalysts derived from ZIF-8 towards enhanced peroxymonosulfate activation and contaminants removal: The synergistic effects of FeNx and α/γ-Fe species

The performance upgrading of iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon (Fe-N-C) for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation towards contaminants removal and elucidation of the activation mechanism still remains a challenge. In this study, novel iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon (Fe-N-C) catalysts are fabricated through pyrolysis of Fe-modified zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocrystals. Catalytic experiments prove that synergistic effects of FeNx and α/γ-Fe species can boost peroxymonosulfate activation and pollutants degradation. Density functional theory simulations disclose that α/γ-Fe species can optimize the d-band center of FeNx and adsorption energy for PMS activation, and thus achieve the enhanced catalytic activities for degradation process. Mechanism studies testify that Fe-N-C-PMS* complex and 1O2 are main contributors for the catalytic process. This work paves a new way for elaborate design of high-performance Fe-N-C materials and understanding about the non-radical mechanism during environmental applications.

Case Study: Advanced Technology Underpins Efficiency and Climate-Related Goal Gains

_ Today’s gas-compression operators are under increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Fortunately, multiple technologies are available that can support that objective while enabling operators to move more gas cost-effectively. Embracing such advancements can positively impact a reduced-carbon future without compromising operational efficiency or profitability. To choose the right technologies for a gas-compression package, it’s critical for operators to have a clear understanding of their business and GHG emissions-related goals. Operators also need clarity concerning the impact of evolving requirements on total cost of ownership (TCO) as well as potential financial ramifications. Producing more gas at a lower cost with lower GHG emissions is possible with new technologies. Operators can support their success by choosing the right engine driver for a gas-compression package based on their unique needs and site conditions. It’s critical to consider an engine’s power density and TCO, as that informs an operator’s selections and can lower a gas-compression package’s operating cost in terms of dollars per thousand cubic feet ($/Mcf) of gas throughput. An engine, such as the Cat G3600 A4 Gen 2, that can deliver a 10% power increase compared to the previous model can allow operators to use fewer engines to perform the same amount of work. This advantage can lower capital requirements, reduce operating expenses, and decrease fuel consumption. Fewer engines operating in the field may also contribute to lower GHG emissions. Modernizing Existing Assets Operators prioritize flexibility, durability, and lower TCO. They can support those objectives by choosing an engine platform that allows performance upgrades across the life of the engine. This enables operators to apply advanced technology in their existing fleet year after year without incurring the substantial cost of purchasing a new engine. Engine upgrade kits offer operators an option to maximize and modernize active assets in a streamlined way, as the upgrades can be applied conveniently and cost-effectively at the time of a scheduled overhaul to minimize disruption. For example, by using an upgrade kit for an A4 Gen 1 engine model referenced above, operators can lower volatile organic compounds up to 32%, formaldehyde up to 24%, carbon monoxide up to 13%, methane emissions up to 33%, and total GHG emissions up to 5% on a grams per brake horsepower-hour (g/bhp-hr) basis* while saving the traditional capital expenditure of a new engine. (*Site conditions: Same power level between the G3600 A4 Gen 1 and Gen 2, 85MN, 905 BTU/scf, 100% load, 25°C ambient, 500-ft altitude.) Such updates are relatively cost neutral when applied as part of a scheduled major overhaul and require minimal or no change to the compression package. This makes upgrade kits a wise choice to ensure equipment keeps pace with industry demands.

A Practice-Oriented Approach for Seismic and Energy Performance Upgrading of Existing Buildings

ABSTRACT Recent studies have focused on identifying the optimal seismic and energy upgrading interventions, among different alternatives, for poorly performing existing buildings. Most of such studies use detailed methodologies to assess the seismic and energy performance of buildings, which are time and computationally demanding, making it nearly unfeasible for practitioners and decision-makers to use them, rendering practice-oriented approaches extremely needed. To overcome the current limitations of more research-oriented methods, this study employs different available simplified approaches, namely SPO2FRAG, cloud-based capacity spectrum method and the Italian seismic risk classification guidelines (Sismabonus), to estimate some of the variables considered when using a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework to select the optimal combined retrofitting strategy, among a set of different options. To this end, a case-study school building was selected and four seismic retrofitting solutions, combined with three energy-based interventions, were identified. The performance of the building, in its as-built and retrofitted conditions, was analysed considering both simplified and detailed approaches for the estimation of two of the seismic-related variables, namely annual probability of failure and expected annual losses. Such simplified and refined estimates were used as MCDM input, comparing the ranking of retrofitting combined alternatives obtained in both cases, demonstrating the suitability of the proposed simplified methodology for engineering practice.

The Role of Supply Chains as an Input to Improve Institutional Performance: Prospective Study

This article examines the pivotal position of delivery chains in enhancing overall institutional performance, highlighting their importance as essential for organizational success. It begins by defining delivery chains and institutional overall performance, establishing a framework for understanding their interconnections. Essential additives of robust supply chains, such as logistics, procurement, and facts flow, are explored to demonstrate how they contribute to institutional efficiency and effectiveness. The look at analyzes the effect of strong deliver chains on institutional overall performance, demonstrating that optimized supply chain management can result in value reduction, progressed provider delivery, and stronger aggressive gain. Strategies for reinforcing delivery chains within institutions are mentioned, imparting actionable insights for leaders searching to leverage delivery chain abilities to force overall performance upgrades. Finally, the thing identifies future developments in delivery chain control, such as digital transformation, sustainability, and collaboration, suggesting that establishments must adapt to these changes to stay aggressive in a rapidly evolving landscape. By integrating those views, this study aims to offer treasured steering for institutional leaders trying to harness the energy of supply chains to enhance overall performance and obtain strategic goals. Keywords : Supply chain, Input institutional Improvement, Quality improvement

Seismic performance upgrade of highway bridges using a novel hybrid placement of bonded and unbonded laminated rubber bearings

To enhance the seismic performance of highway bridges supported by laminated rubber bearings, this study proposes a novel hybrid placement of bonded and unbonded bearings. The typical analytical models of the hybrid bearing system are obtained and its critical design parameters are identified through theoretical analysis. A design procedure is then established to rapidly determine the design parameters for the hybrid bearing system according to specified design objectives. Nonlinear time history analyses are conducted to demonstrate the impact of the hybrid bearing system on the seismic responses of bridges. The analytical results indicate that the hybrid bearing system, when designed using the proposed procedure, can achieve the desired hysteretic behavior. The hybrid system combines the benefits of both bonded and unbonded bearings, effectively controlling maximum and residual bearing displacements without significantly increasing the seismic demand on bridge piers. The design parameters for the hybrid bearing system should be determined by carefully balancing the responses between the bearings and the piers.

High‐density implantable neural electrodes and chips for massive neural recordings

AbstractHigh‐density neural recordings with superior spatiotemporal resolution powerfully unveil cellular‐scale neural communication, showing great promise in neural science, translational medicine, and clinical applications. To achieve such, many design and fabrication innovations enhanced the electrode, chip, or both for biocompatibility improvement, electrical performance upgrade, and size miniaturization, offering several thousands of recording sites. However, an enormous gap exists along the trajectory toward billions of recording sites for brain scale resolution, posing many more design challenges. This review tries to find possible insight into mitigating the gap by discussing the latest progress in high‐density electrodes and chips for neural recordings. It emphasizes the design, fabrication, bonding techniques, and in vivo performance optimization of high‐density electrodes. It discusses the promising opportunities for circuit‐level and architecture‐level multi‐channel chip design innovations. We expect that joint effort and close collaboration between high‐density electrodes and chips will pave the way to high‐resolution neural recording tools supporting cutting‐edge neuroscience discoveries and applications.

An improved two‐dimensional (2,4) finite‐difference time‐domain method for Lorentz dispersive media

AbstractThe credible solution of discretized Maxwell's equations in spaces occupied by Lorentz dispersive media is the main subject of this work. Specifically, we introduce a finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) algorithm with a typical (2,4) structure that features dispersion‐relation‐preserving characteristics and produces reduced numerical errors in two‐dimensional electromagnetic simulations, compared to the standard approach with similar computational requirements. We consider the case of dispersive media with non‐vanishing absorption coefficients and investigate different options for the suitable modification of the spatial approximations, so that the accomplished accuracy is optimized for a given computational overhead. The properties of the proposed FDTD technique are thoroughly examined, both theoretically and in numerical tests, and the performance upgrade compared with the conventional solution is assessed.

Identifying the influence of land logistic driver cognitive energy impact on supply chain performance through agent-based simulation

Logistic transports link demand generators, distributors, and producers in a supply chain network (SCN). The existence of logistic transports is critical to ensure whole nodes’ economic sustainability. This study explores the impact of human factors on SCN performance through cognitive energy expenditure (CEE) tracking. Agent-based model (ABM) simulation was used to analyze the impact of CEE from truck driver’s electroencephalography (EEG) data to obtain the postsynaptic potential values, which were then transformed to calorific energy. The fleet agents, retailers and distributor models were built based on the East Java, Indonesia, logistic transport route around Karanglo, Gempol, Bungurasih, and Gubeng. The frequency and the peak value of the EEG data, postsynaptic potential, and energy data indicate the same information. All data indicate that more challenging routes have higher frequency and higher peak values. The ABM simulation of the fleet agents shows balanced CEE throughout entire routes due to the precise rest period and eat scheduling. The average delivery success rate was 8 out of 30 or 26.7 % in each simulation time step. Hence, most goods delivery tasks can be completed by fleet agents in a balanced system. As a consequence, the SCN performance is also balanced due to the fluid inventory shift without overstock and stockouts. The rest and eat periods of a fleet agent were scheduled after the CEE has been peaked. The time lag between rest periods and transport operations has to be maintained to overcome fleet agents task buildup. Task buildup has a potential to decay both transport safety and inventory shift rates. Therefore, the upgrade in SCN performance is possible through proper fleet agents scheduling

[Ce3+-Pr3+-Nd3+]:CsPbI2.2Br0.8 stable energy system for photonic and electrical performance upgradation in multitudinous applications

Adopting an integrated and consolidated strategy to energy generation, conversion, and storage is linked to energy sustainability in the modern day. Current investigation explores the lanthanide triple doping mechanism coupled with temperature optimization using (cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium)-oxide to modify CsPbI2.2Br0.8 forming the stable [Ce3+-Pr3+-Nd3+]:CsPbI2.2Br0.8 (CPN:CPVSK) hetero-system. CPN:CPVSK thin films have remarkable optical output for the prolonged duration of 28 days with the band gap energy spanning around 1.64–1.67 eV. These thin films have cubic phase with the 65.44 nm average crystallite size and these thin films have excellent surficial binding without any holes or cracks. CPN:CPVSK was employed as an active light trapping material inside perovskite solar cells processed and analyzed at ambient conditions. The temperature increment from 100 to 200 °C subsequently lead to improvement in efficiency from 6.91% to 15.5% with considerable improvement in fill factor. CPN:CPVSK effectively generated pure H2 with the minor overpotential and Tafel slope values of 132 mV and 122.3 mV dec−1 while the O2 production activity was unappreciable. CPN:CPVSK is a potential material for battery application with the excellent unit capacity of 354 mA H g−1 and lower Rs of 0.44 Ω. Rare earth doped perovskite material is a sustainable, cost effective, and facile to prepare with the greater candidature for practical applications.

Nonlinear Viscous Damping-Based Negative Stiffness Isolation System for Over-Track Complex Structures

ABSTRACT The over-track complex structures are driven by transit-oriented urban development, leading to the necessity for advanced seismic performance upgrades. An innovative solution is presented in this study, involving the negative-stiffness amplification system-enabled isolation system (NSAS-IS) with nonlinear viscous damping to establish a flexible isolation layer beneath over-track buildings. The multi-benefit-based design procedure and easy-to-use formula are developed. Its effectiveness and comparative superiority over conventional ones, particularly in mitigating negative effects of over-track buildings on lower podiums, is confirmed by case studies. NSAS-IS with an optimized nonlinear viscous damping exponent exhibits a significant reduction in isolation-layer displacement and robustness against earthquakes.

An integrated regional prioritisation framework for seismic and energy-efficiency performance upgrading of residential buildings

Given the ambitious carbon emission reduction targets, enormous resources are being invested in Europe to foster environmental, economic and social sustainability. An urgent response, foreseen by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is also demanded by the European Commission to all the Member States for the energy requalification of buildings, which are responsible for about 36% of European greenhouse gas emissions. While targeting energy efficiency improvement, many regions are prone to other perils, such as seismic hazard, which might compromise the effective sustainability of the energy requalification. In fact, the innate diversity between regions or countries, which do not share the same seismic risk level and social issues, cannot be overlooked. For this reason, specific indicators should be considered to achieve an appropriate level of resilience (energy, seismic and social) of the overall existing building stock. This paper proposes an integrated framework, specifically calibrated and demonstrated for the Italian residential building stock, applicable to any other region or country, based on primary indicators defined for regional assessment. The framework encompasses single and multi-sectoral indicators, providing different prioritisation patterns and refinement scales, from province to national level. The most updated building fragility models are selected and combined through a logic tree strategy. The space heating energy consumption and CO2 emissions are directly taken from a collection of all the Energy Performance Certificates (APE) of Italian buildings and building units, while national and European indices are used to account for socioeconomic aspects. In addition to the socioeconomic aspects related to the development levels of each region, energy poverty and earthquake risk awareness were also considered as indicators of the socioeconomic vulnerability of regions. The proposed framework and the prioritisation patterns obtained in this work can support relevant stakeholders to foresee economic support and strategic financial planning for seismic strengthening and energy renovation interventions on existing buildings, including socioeconomic features, and favour funding in regions of higher needs.

A framework for unmanned equipment performance upgrade in civil airport at early stage

A framework for unmanned equipment performance upgrade in civil airport at early stage

Sociological Upshot of Social Communications on the Academic Performance of Sociology Students at University of Sierra Leone, Fourah Bay College

The nucleus of the sociological research was to dictate the ramifications of the utilization of social communications sites on the academic performance of sociology students at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. Social communications is a renowned mode for communication amongst university sociology students in Sierra Leone. Nonetheless, extreme social communications utilization, markup inquiries about whether academic performance is affected. This sociological research explores this inquiry by directing a sociological research on Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, sociology students, in evaluates to social communications handling and their academic performance. The sociological research also explored which social web is the most renowned amongst Sierra Leone university sociology students, why sociology students visit their social communications sites and if there exist considerable upgrade in the sociology student academic performance. Survey was utilized as a mechanism for information crowding. The sociological research welcomed 30 feedbacks and expressive social statistics involving commonality trials that is dissipate threads were utilized to explore the social network between the midpoint digit of hours students consumed of social communications a week and the merits they obtain from utilizing social communications sites. The social communications sites expressly Google +, Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype and X former Twitter grab the focus of sociology students for sociological research and affecting certainly their academic Grade points. The disclosures of the sociological research can be utilized to initiate the appropriate social schemes for upgrading the academic performance of sociology students in this fashion that a steadiness in the inactivity, particulars social reciprocity and academic performance can be preserved.

Emerging renovation strategies and technical solutions for mass-construction of residential districts built after World War II in Europe

While deep energy renovations of buildings have been implemented for over a decade, the pace and volume of building upgrades are still insufficient to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Therefore, it is urgent to adopt technological and management innovations to significantly improve renovation performance. A significant portion of Europe's building stock was constructed after World War II using industrial methods, often in concentrated districts. It is reasonable to consider mass-renovating these dwellings that require urgent structural and energy performance upgrades. This paper aims to assess the extent to which EU member states are planning to implement mass-renovations and identify the main barriers to initiating and mainstreaming mass-renovation approaches. We conducted a content analysis of EU member states' long-term renovation strategies (n = 29) and used in-depth interviews (n = 16) with representatives of the renovation supply side in Estonia. Our findings reveal that the recent iteration of national long-term renovation strategies demonstrates a weak approach to mass-renovations. Only the regions of Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium have provided specific action plans. While one third of states have mentioned the theoretical benefits of mass-renovations, most countries have not addressed this approach at all. The interviews revealed that maintaining consistent demand, involving large new builders, and adopting offsite prefabrication of renovation components are key factors for initiating or mainstreaming mass-renovations. First, we propose that EU member states include mass-renovation goals and action plans in the next version of strategic documents that determine the financing of energy efficiency. Second, central governments should empower local governments with the necessary skills and resources to lead district-based renovation adoption. Third, we suggest that countries make significant investments in industrializing current resource-consuming onsite renovation practices to transition towards off-site prefab serial renovation.

Rational Use of Energy in Sport Centers to Achieving Net Zero—The SAVE Project (Part B: Indoor Sports Hall)

Sports centers are significant energy consumers. This article outlines the engineering design for a comprehensive energy performance upgrade of the indoor sports hall in Arkalochori, Greece, and presents the projected results. The indoor sports hall constitutes a major sport facility on the mainland of Crete, hosting a broad cluster of sport municipal activities and the official basketball games of the local team in the 2nd national category. Having been constructed in the mid-1990s, the facility exhibits very low thermal performance, with considerably high U-factors for all constructive elements (from 4 to 5 W/m2∙K), still use of diesel oil for indoor space heating and domestic heat water production, and ineffective old lamps and luminaries covering the lighting needs of the facility. The energy performance upgrade of the indoor sports hall was studied, and the following passive and active measures were considered: Opaque-surfaces’ thermal insulation and openings’ replacement, stone wool panels, installation of heat pumps for indoor space conditioning, removal of diesel oil for any end use, production of domestic hot water from a novel solar-combi system, upgrade of lighting equipment, installation of solar tubes on the main sports hall roof for natural lighting as well as of a photovoltaic system for covering the remaining electricity consumption. With the proposed interventions, the studied building becomes a zero-energy facility. The payback period of the investment was calculated at 26 years on the basis of the avoided energy cost. This work was funded by the “NESOI” Horizon 2020 project and received the public award “Islands Gamechanger” competition of the NESOI project and the Clean Energy for EU Islands initiative.

The Application of Image Acquisition and Processing Techniques for the Determination of Wooden Pellet Length as an Alternative to ISO 17829

Global market developments of wooden pellets have led to an increased attention towards pellet quality. ISO 17829 defines the procedure to assess pellets’ geometrical parameters, which play a key role in pellet overall quality. For instance, pellet length influences the spatial arrangement within the stove brazier, affecting the interaction between combustion air and solid biofuel, thus affecting CO emissions. The ISO 17829 method is time-consuming and affected by the operator’s accuracy. Recent studies have investigated the application of new methods, such as image processing, for monitoring the aforementioned parameter. While also assessing the representativeness of ISO 17829’s method, this paper proposes an alternative measuring tool based on image processing named Pellet Length Detector (PLD). Samples were obtained from Italian pellet suppliers and subjected to a multiple dimensional analysis via PLD and caliper. The PLD’s overall performance led to satisfactory results, with only 10% of the samples having a bias between replicates of >2 mm. Compared to caliper, PLD led to an average bias of 0.5 mm. Moreover, a one-way ANOVA highlighted that increasing the sample size between caliper and PLD leads to a greater statistical similarity of the data obtained for different replicates. Given the prototype status of the device, a further performance upgrade is possible, especially through error modeling.