Total Operating Research Articles

Initial experience and results of robotic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection in locally advanced rectal cancer—a single center experience of 17 consecutive procedures

PurposeWe have evaluated lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPLND) in combination with rectal resection in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer in a specialized colorectal surgical department with a focus on safety and feasibility.MethodsThe study analyzed surgical-pathologic outcomes in 17 consecutive patients who underwent robotic LPLND and rectal resection between May 2018 and June 2024 at a high-volume colorectal cancer center in Denmark. Patients were selected for the procedure based on lateral lymph node (LLN) diameter ≥ 8 mm before and ≥ 5 mm after neoadjuvant treatment.ResultsOut of 17 patients (15 men and 2 females) included in this study, 13 patients (76%) had undergone neoadjuvant therapy. The median age was 63 years (range 35–79) with a median BMI of 25.6 kg/m2 (range 19.4–34.5). The total median operation time was 335 min (range 182–526 min) with no conversions necessary. Additional resection of structures beyond the total mesorectal excision plane was performed in eight patients (47%). The median hospital stay was 4 days (range 2–14) and one patient was readmitted within 30 days. Seven patients experienced postoperative complications within 30 days, with only one CD complication ≥ grade 3. The median number of resected LLNs was 4 (range 0–11) per patient and malignant LLNs were verified in three patients (17.6%).ConclusionThis study shows that simultaneous robot-assisted LPLND and rectal resection can be performed safely and effectively in selected patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, with a short hospital stay and few readmissions and postoperative complications.

A Cost Analysis of Enucleation and Evisceration Surgeries for Treatment of Blind, Painful Eyes.

The purpose of this study is to assess the surgical costs of enucleations and eviscerations and their relation to current reimbursement rates using time-driven activity-based costing. This is a retrospective study of patients undergoing enucleation and evisceration surgeries with attachment of muscles (Current Procedural Terminology 65105 and 65093) for a diagnosis of blind, painful eye, from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023, at a single, tertiary level, teaching hospital. A time-driven activity-based cost analysis for day of surgery was performed. Operative reports, perioperative times, and supply costs were extracted from the electronic medical record, and average reimbursement fees were taken from Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services data. In the 5-year study span, 110 patients underwent enucleation and 52 underwent evisceration for a primary indication of blind, painful eye by 10 different surgeons. The average operating room time and surgical time for enucleation was approximately 9 minutes longer compared with evisceration (p < 0.01). Both surgeries on average resulted in a negative margin with enucleations costing on average $624 more than eviscerations. The breakeven total operating room time for enucleation and evisceration surgery was approximately 86.3 and 83.1 minutes, respectively. From the sample, approximately 79% of enucleation and 60% of evisceration surgeries resulted in a net negative margin. On average, the cost of enucleation and evisceration surgeries exceeded the reimbursement amount set by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Compared with enucleation, evisceration was more time and cost-effective by only a modest margin.

Novel Artificial Neural Network Aided Structural Topology Optimization

In this paper, novel artificial neural networks are adopted for the topology optimization of full structures at both coarse and fine scales. The novelty of the surrogate-based method is to use neural networks to optimize the relationship from boundary and mesh conditions to structure density distribution. The objective of this study is to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of deep learning techniques for structural topology optimization. The newly developed neural networks are used for optimizing various types of structures with different meshes, partition numbers, and parameters. The finite element computation takes more than 90% of the total operation time of the SIMP method, but it decreases to 40%. It is indicated that the computational cost for the whole structural design process is relatively low, while the accuracy is acceptable. The proposed artificial neural network method is used to perform topology optimization for some numerical examples such as the cantilever beam, the MBB beam, the L-shape beam, the column, and the rod-supported bridge. It is demonstrated that computational efficiency is considerably improved while the proposed neural network method is adopted.

Percutaneous Embolization of No Ligated Vertical Veins After Total Anomalous Pulmonary Vein Return Operation and Risk Factors for Its Persistence

Background: The vertical vein (VV) ligation during the total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) correction is still controversial. Our study aimed to define the potential risk factors for VV persistence and their percutaneous occlusion. Methods: The retrospective cohort study included 40 patients (26 males) with TAPVR treated at the tertiary referral center from 2005 to 2024. Results: The average days of age at diagnosis was two (IQR 1–8). Complex congenital heart disease with TAPVR was diagnosed in eight patients. A supracardiac type of TAPVR was found in 47% of them. The patients underwent the operation on their eighth day of life (IQR 5–57). The follow-up period was 32 months (IQR 8–99). The early postoperative mortality rate was 17.5%, significantly frequent in the patients’ group with combined CHD (p = 0.002). Four were reoperated on—three due to a postoperative obstruction between the pulmonary venous confluence and the left atrium (LA), while in one patient, a redirection of the VCI was performed. Four patients, aged 12.3 on average (IQR 8.9–14.7), underwent vertical vein embolization. All patients achieved complete occlusion with AVP2. The LA diameter Z score was lower than −4, an increased risk for VV persistence of almost 19 times (OR 18.6, 95% CI 1.6–216.0). Conclusions: We found that an LA diameter Z score of lower than −4 was a major risk factor for VV persistence. Percutaneous VV embolization is a safe and effective procedure in adolescents.

MRSimulator: A cross-platform, object-oriented software package for rapid solid-state NMR spectral simulation and analysis.

The open-source Python package, MRSimulator, is presented as a simple-to-use, fast, versatile, and extendable package capable of simulating one- and higher-dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra under static, magic-angle, and variable-angle conditions. High benchmarks in spectral simulations are achieved by assuming that there are no degeneracies in the energy eigenstates, i.e., all dipolar couplings are in the weak limit and that there are no rotational resonances during evolution periods. Under these assumptions, the symmetry pathway formalism is exploited to reduce an NMR method applied to a spin system into a sum of individual transition pathways, whose signals are more efficiently calculated individually than as part of a full-density matrix simulation. To increase numerical efficiencies further, our approach restricts coherence transfer among transitions to pure rotations about an axis in the x-y plane of the rotating frame or through an artificial total mixing operation between selected transitions of adjacent free evolution periods. The assumptions used in this approach are valid for most commonly used solid-state NMR methods. Details of the implementation, along with example code usage, are given, including a least-squares spectral analysis.

Assessing the Impact of Surface Blast Design Parameters on the Performance of a Comminution Circuit Processing a Copper-Bearing Ore

Open-pit mining remains the dominant method for copper extraction in current operations, with blasting playing a pivotal role in the efficiency of downstream processes such as loading, hauling, crushing, and milling. This study assesses the impact of surface blast design parameters on the performance of a comminution circuit processing a copper-bearing ore. The analysis focuses on important design parameters such as burden, spacing, stemming, and powder factor, evaluating their influence on the fragment size distribution and downstream comminution circuit performance. Using the Kuz-Ram model, four novel blast designs are compared against a baseline to predict the size distribution of rock fragments (X80). Key performance indicators throughput and specific energy consumption are calculated to evaluate the comminution circuit performance. Results demonstrated that reducing the X80 from 500 mm to 120 mm led up to a 20% increase in throughput and a 29% reduction in total specific energy consumption. Furthermore, achieving finer particle sizes through more intensive blasting contributed to a reduction in total operating costs by up to 12%. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing blast design to improve comminution circuit performance, contributing to sustainable mining practices by reducing energy consumption, operating costs, and the environmental footprint of mining operations.

Optimal Scheduling of Virtual Power Plants Under a Multiple Energy Sharing Framework Considering Joint Electricity and Carbon Trading

The virtual power plant (VPP) is an excellent approach for mitigating the intermittency and fluctuation of renewable energy sources. The present work proposes an optimal scheduling model for VPPs to leverage the benefits of joint electricity and carbon trading from the perspective of multiple energy-sharing mechanisms. First, the optimal sharing scheduling model of the electric, thermal, and hydrogen energy was established. The model integrates various components, including wind turbines, photovoltaic units, electrolytic cells, combined heat and power units, hydrogen-doped gas boilers, electric energy storage, thermal storage tanks, and hydrogen storage tanks. Then, the model incorporates a tiered carbon trading mechanism to minimize operating and trading costs. Finally, numerical results indicate that, compared with the independent operation of virtual power plants and the lack of joint electricity and carbon trading, the optimal scheduling scheme proposed in this paper reduces the total cost and carbon emissions of the three VPPs by 3.3% and 49.7%, respectively. This demonstrates that the proposed model can effectively reduce the total operating expenses of VPPs by facilitating the allocation of electric, thermal, and hydrogen energy and achieving low-carbon emission operations.

Efficacy and Safety of LigaSure in Breast Surgery With Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Conventional axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is associated with significant post-operative morbidity in patients undergoing breast surgery due to increased lymphatic leakage. LigaSure, an electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system, provides better closure of the leakage. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of LigaSure against conventional techniques in patients with breast cancer underwent ALND and breast surgery. We conducted a comprehensive search across the databases to identify relevant studies. The search results were imported into Covidence for article eligibility screening, and all relevant outcomes data were synthesized using odd ratios (ORs) or standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in meta-analysis models using RevMan 5.4. Twelve studies with the total of 895 patients (LigaSure = 441; Conventional technique = 454) with breast cancer underwent breast surgery with ALND were included. LigaSure was associated with significantly lower post-operative drain volume (SMD: -0.39, 95% CI [-0.53, -0.24], P < 0.00001), shortened duration of drain (SMD: -0.51, 95% CI [-0.67, -0.34], P < 0.00001), and reduced hospital stay length (SMD: -0.57, 95% CI [-0.96, -0.18], P = 0.004) compared to conventional techniques. However, no difference observed in total operation time, intra-operative blood loss, seroma related outcomes and post-operative complications between the two groups. LigaSure significantly reduced the lymphorrhea, duration of drain and hospital stay, however, it did not prove be effective in seroma-related outcomes.

Strategies for a successful collaboration between a rural hospital and an academic medical centre

Rural hospitals are facing unprecedented financial challenges in the United States. The many factors contributing to the economic headwinds for rural hospitals result in reduced clinical services offered in local communities. Affiliations, mergers and acquisitions are a path for rural facilities to keep their doors open. Maintaining independence as a rural hospital by employing an affiliation approach with a larger health system can be a sustainable path under the right circumstances. This paper outlines a successful 12-year affiliation between a critical access hospital (CAH) and an academic medical centre (AMC) in Oregon. This paper outlines the underlying structure and governance of the collaboration, important management approaches, lessons learned and the results over the life of the affiliation. The results for the CAH include the growth of annual ambulatory visits from 15,000 to 131,000, adding 430 new employees, and increasing the total annual operating revenue from US$51m to US$193m. The results for the AMC include the development of an innovative joint venture rural cancer centre, the growth of rural graduate medical education rotations, and expanding clinical department faculty who work in a rural community setting. Enhancing health care in underserved areas aligns with the AMC’s statewide mission to serve all Oregonians as the AMC. There have been significant benefits to patients by increasing access to speciality services locally, including reducing miles travelled for cancer care. Our case study demonstrates that an affiliation structure between a CAH and an AMC can be a sustainable and beneficial approach to improving access to quality health care in rural communities and can strengthen the financial performance of both organisations.

Machine learning-based techno-econo-environmental analysis of CO2-to-olefins process for screening the optimal catalyst and hydrogen color

CO2 to light olefins (CTLO) is an attractive strategy for CO2 fixation to obtain high-value-added chemical products. Selecting the optimal catalyst and hydrogen source for the process has become increasingly challenging due to the wide range of developed catalysts and diverse hydrogen sources available. Herein, this study proposes a machine learning-based techno-econo-environmental analysis framework for screening catalysts and hydrogen colors for the CTLO process. The preferred machine learning model is employed to screen the most promising catalyst for the CTLO process, which is then applied to accomplish the conceptual design of the entire process to obtain essential material and energy balance results by process modeling and simulation. Finally, the techno-econo-environmental performance of the CTLO processes using various colored hydrogen are compared to provide more informed choices. The results indicate the extreme gradient boosting model exhibits superior predictive accuracy, making it suitable for integrating with the genetic algorithm to screen the optimal catalyst for the CTLO process. After multi-objective optimization, an optimal Fe-based catalyst is screened and used for the modeling and simulation of the CTLO process due to its highest light olefins yield (36.43%). The carbon, hydrogen, and exergy utilization efficiencies of the CTLO process considering solely the target light olefins are 59.58%, 21.71%, and 40.41%, respectively. After evaluating the impact of different H2 colors on the total operating cost, unit production cost, and minimum selling price of the CTLO process, it was found the CTLO process using gray H2 generated by coke oven gas and coal gasification technologies exhibits the most favorable cost-effectiveness and optimal market price compared to alternative production scenarios. However, using green H2 proves highly advantageous for the CTLO process in attaining comprehensive negative carbon emissions throughout its lifecycle. Moreover, it anticipates the influence of technological advancements and market fluctuations on the market competitiveness of CTLO processes with diverse hydrogen colors.

Environmental and economic assessment of urban wastewater reclamation from ultrafiltration membrane-based tertiary treatment: Effect of seasonal dynamic

This study aimed to assess the environmental and economic performance of an ultrafiltration (UF) tertiary treatment of effluent from an urban wastewater treatment facility. Data from a UF demonstration plant composed of commercially available equipment, including industrial hollow-fiber membranes was used to project a full-scale facility. The results from the demonstration plant recommended different ranges of transmembrane fluxes and sparging air demands under summer and winter conditions to prevent excessive fouling. The energy balance of the full-scale facility would be 0.308 ± 0.112 kWh·m−3 in summer and 0.140 ± 0.040 kWh·m−3 in winter, with blowers' being the main consumers (86–93 %). CAPEX accounted for €0.030 ± 0.002·m−3 in summer and €0.027 ± 0.002·m−3 in winter and membrane acquisition represented 66–69 % of the investment cost. Energy expenditure was the major OPEX cost (66–79 %), with a total operating cost of €0.077 ± 0.023·m−3 and €0.042 ± 0.008·m−3 in summer and winter, respectively. The final average value obtained for the TAC was €0.107 m−3 in summer and €0.068 m−3 in winter. The environmental assessment confirmed optimizing energy consumption and membrane requirements as the main factors influencing environmental sustainability. Specifically, summer and winter emissions of 0.079–0.175 and 0.043–0.079 kgCO2eq·m−3 (Global warming potential); 8.1 · 10−4–1.7 · 10−3 and 4.8 · 10−3–8.1 · 10−3 m3·m−3 (water consumption); 0.019–0.041 and 0.010–0.019 kg oileq·m−3 (fossil fuel scarcity); and 1.4 · 10−4–2.9 · 10−4 and 7.7 · 10−4–1.4 · 10−4 kg Cueq·m−3 (mineral resource scarcity) were calculated, respectively. The obtained permeate quality complied with the most stringent Spanish and EU regulations.

Clinical results of 100 cases of modified eversion carotid endarterectomy

Objective: The primary goal of this study is to explore the safety and effectiveness of a new modified eversion carotid endarterectomy (MECEA). Methods: This is a retrospective case series study. One hundred patients were consecutively treated with MECEA by the same operator at Department of Vascular Surgery,Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2019 to December 2023. There were 77 males and 23 females. The age was (66.0±8.6)years (range: 39 to 85 years). Twenty-four (24.0%) patients were symptomatic with the degree of carotid stenosis over 50%,76 patients (76.0%) were asymptomatic with the degree of stenosis over 70%. All these patients meet the indication of carotid endarterectomy. The main difference between MECEA and traditional eversion carotid endarterectomy was the anterior,lateral,and posterior walls of the internal carotid artery were incised obliquely from the origin of the internal carotid artery toward the common carotid artery,leaving the wall of internal carotid artery intact at the bifurcation. The surgical process,cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications and other surgical complications were recorded. The incidences of complications,restenosis of intraoperative target lesions and re-intervention were collected during follow-up. Results: All procedures were performed successfully under general anesthesia. The total operation time was (36.5±10.1)minutes (range: 22 to 65 minutes),and carotid clamping time was (15.0±6.3)minutes (range: 7 to 31 minutes). One patient (1.0%) occurred postoperative cerebrovascular accident,1 patient (1.0%) developed cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS),and another 1 patient (1.0%) suffered myocardial infarction. All these patients were recovered after medical treatment within a week. The follow-up time(M(IQR)) was 24 (28) months (range: 6 to 62 months). Two patients (2.0%) were reported to have hemodynamically significant restenosis within 2 years,with one patient requiring intervention. No patient suffered from ipsilateral ischemic stroke. Conclusions: MECEA is a safe and effective surgical method of treating carotid artery stenosis. This method can reduce carotid clamping time and lowers the risk of ischemic stroke. Meantime,it preserves the integrity of the adventitia at the bifurcation of carotid artery,reduces the chance of restenosis. Moreover,it might be helpful to prevent postoperative CHS due to reducing damage to the carotid body and carotid sinus nerve.

Joint peak power and carbon emission shaving in active distribution systems using carbon emission flow-based deep reinforcement learning

Distribution optimal power flow (D-OPF) with peak load shaving function is crucial for guaranteeing economical and reliable operations of active distribution grids with various distributed energy resources. However, conventional D-OPF methods reduce only the power operation cost without considering carbon emission reduction, which may lead to a slowdown in achieving global carbon neutrality. To resolve this issue, this study proposes a deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-assisted D-OPF framework realizing dual-peak shaving of power and carbon emission for low-carbon active distribution system operations based on the notion of carbon emission flow (CEF). The proposed framework aims to minimize the total power operation costs of substation and gas-turbine (GT) generators. It also aims to reduce the total carbon emission cost via mitigation of peak power and carbon emission in the CEF-based D-OPF framework with both power and carbon emission peak constraints. A key feature of the proposed framework is the adoption of the DRL method for the CEF-based D-OPF problem to determine economical and eco-friendly peaks of power and carbon emission under dynamically changing distribution system operations. Furthermore, a D-OPF optimization-based reward function for the DRL agent is designed to yield no constraint violations for the D-OPF problem during the agent’s training phase. Numerical examples conducted on the IEEE 33-node and IEEE 69-node distribution systems with GT generators, solar photovoltaic systems, and energy storage systems demonstrate that, in contrast with CEF-free and CEF-integrated optimization methods with fixed power and/or carbon emission peaks, the proposed method further reduces the total carbon emission and cost.

Multi-objective DG placement in radial distribution systems using the IbI logic algorithm

This paper presents a unique optimization method based on the incomprehensible but intelligible-in-time (IbI) logic algorithm (ILA) to optimally place dispersed generators in small, medium, large, and very large (16-, 33-, 69-, and 118-bus) radial distribution power networks to reduce power losses, the total operating cost, and the voltage deviation and improve the voltage level. Two types of multiple distributed generators (DGs) are employed in this study, one working at unity power factor and the other at 0.866 p.f. The IbI logic algorithm works by understanding concepts that are not currently recognized as logical but are expected to become logical over time. The proposed approach was used to address a multi-objective multi-DG placement problem. The results generated through this method were compared with those generated by other methods and were observed to be comparatively remarkable.

Rapid Treatment of Urban Initial Rainwater Runoff by A/O–Magnetic Flocculation Combined Process

The acceleration of urbanization with the increased proportion of impermeable surfaces has posed significant challenges for old urban drainage systems, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall. Urban initial rainwater runoff pollution, containing a considerable quantity of pollutants, has severely contaminated the urban water environment. The present study presented an A/O–magnetic flocculation (A/O-MF) process for the rapid treatment of urban initial rainwater runoff pollution to realize the simultaneous removal of NH4+-N, TN, COD, TP, and SSs. The optimal operation parameters were obtained by the single-factor and orthogonal methods. The results showed that the optimal operation duration of the A/O process was 10 min for the anoxic process and 60 min for the aerobic process. The optimal dosages of the flocculants were 105 mg/L for PAC, 3 mg/L for PAM, and 30 mg/L for Fe3O4 with a sedimentation time of 2 min. To treat the actual runoff rainwater, the A/O-MF process improved the removal efficiencies of TP, SSs, NH4+-N, and COD compared with the single A/O process, with efficiencies of 99.5%, 93.3%, 99.7%, and 91.3%, respectively. The total operation duration was only 74 min, which could enable the rapid and efficient treatment of urban runoff rainwater.

Comparison of Patient-Specific Plates and Pre-Bent Plates for Preserving Condylar Position in Mandible Reconstruction

Comparison of Patient-Specific Plates and Pre-Bent Plates for Preserving Condylar Position in Mandible Reconstruction

Advancements in Redox-Mediated Electrodialysis for Valorization of Biomolecules

In the chemical and biochemical manufacturing industry, separation processes are amongst the most energy-demanding processes, accounting for 50% of total operating costs.1, 2 Redox-mediated electrodialysis (redox-ED) has attracted attention as a process-intensified method for resource recovery, particularly selective recovery of organic molecules such as proteins and organic acids.2, 3 By replacing water-splitting reactions with reversible redox reactions, pH-sensitive biomolecules can be electrochemically recovered with reduced overall energy consumption. We demonstrated the valorization of proteins from whey waste via the redox-ED platform.2 Our system treated 99% of salt from the whey solution within a single step and recovered over 98% of various whey proteins (e.g., beta-lactoglobulin and alpha-lactalbumin). The preliminary techno-economic analysis confirmed the economic viability of redox-ED with 51−73% lower energy consumption compared to conventional ED. Moreover, we mitigated the inherent limitation selectivity of ion-exchange membranes in discriminating among the same charged species (e.g., cations and anions), by employing a layer-by-layer (LBL) membrane functionalization approach.3 This LBL membrane modification enabled the recovery of organic acids from a multicomponent mixture, where there is a mixture of neutral and charged species. By tailoring the physicochemical properties of IEMs through the LBL polyelectrolyte layers, we achieved complete retention of succinic acid produced in the fermentation process, while enhancing the overall flux for inorganic ions.3 Redox-ED with LBL-functionalized membrane demonstrated the continuous up-concentration of succinate alongside the isolation of unreacted sugar and inorganic ions, opening avenues for modular multicomponent separations in biomanufacturing processes. References (1) Kim, N.; Jeon, J.; Chen, R.; Su, X. Electrochemical separation of organic acids and proteins for food and biomanufacturing. Chemical Engineering Research and Design 2022, 178, 267-288. (2) Kim, N.; Jeon, J.; Elbert, J.; Kim, C.; Su, X. Redox-mediated electrochemical desalination for waste valorization in dairy production. Chemical Engineering Journal 2022, 428, 131082. (3) Kim, N.; Lee, J.; Su, X. Precision Tuning of Highly Selective Polyelectrolyte Membranes for Redox‐Mediated Electrochemical Separation of Organic Acids. Advanced Functional Materials 2023, 33 (12), 2211645.

The multi-depot pickup and delivery vehicle routing problem with time windows and dynamic demands

The rapid development of the urban logistics recycling industry, combined with the complexity of the pickup and delivery networks, has created a surge in dynamic customer demands and exacerbated the difficulty of logistics resource sharing. Accordingly, this work focuses on a multi-depot pickup and delivery vehicle routing problem with time windows and dynamic demands, which incorporates resource sharing. A bi-objective mathematical model is formulated to minimize the total operating cost and number of vehicles. A three-dimensional affinity propagation clustering and an adaptive nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II are combined to find Pareto optimal solutions. A dynamic demand insertion strategy is proposed to determine the vehicle service sequences for dynamic situations. Combined with an elite iteration mechanism to prevent the proposed algorithm from falling into search stagnation and improve the convergence performance. The superiority of the proposed algorithm is verified by comparing with CPLEX solver (i.e., ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio 12.10), multi-objective ant colony optimization, multi-objective particle swarm optimization, multi-objective evolutionary algorithm, multi-objective genetic algorithm, and decomposition-based multi-objective evolutionary algorithm with tabu search. Besides, the proposed model and algorithm are tested by a real-world case study in Chongqing city, China, and the further analysis indicates that significant improvement can be achieved. Furthermore, by incorporating the recognition and prediction techniques of artificial intelligence on dynamic demand data, the proposed approach can realize the self-optimization of multi-depot vehicle routes and the precise allocation of logistics resources in dynamic environments. This study is conducive to the construction of a digitally-intelligent urban logistics system.

Optimizing Wind and Solar Integration in a Hybrid Energy System for Enhanced Sustainability

ABSTRACTA hybrid energy system, comprising a diesel engine as the prime mover, electrical and absorption chillers, a backup boiler, and a multi‐effect distillation through thermal vapor compression (MED‐TVC) unit, has been utilized to meet the requirements of a residential complex. This study focuses on redesigning and optimizing the system to enhance environmental conditions, reduce pollutants, and minimize the use of fossil energy. The feasibility and design of renewable energy systems, including wind turbines (WTs), photovoltaic panels (PVs), and flat plate collectors (FPCs), have been examined. Genetic algorithm (GA) has been employed for optimization. The hybrid system employs 21 design variables, with 24 design variables chosen for optimization alongside renewable energies. The total annual cost (TAC), encompassing investment, operation, and pollution emission fines, has been chosen as the objective function for minimization. The results indicate that the use of WTs has not been cost‐effective, and solar energy can enhance the system's performance in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province in Iran. In the case of using a combined system, the objective function value was 2.0472 × 106 $/year, and when using renewable energies, the objective function became 1.6795 × 106 $/year. Thus, the proposed combined‐renewable system has reduced the objective function by 17.96%.

Multi-scenario optimization and performance evaluation of integrated energy system considering co-scheduling of EVs and stationary energy storage

As the mobile energy storage and load-side demand response device, energy dispatch potential of electric vehicles (EVs) in energy supply system is yet to be fully explored. This study presented a multi-energy incorporating integrated energy system (IES) with carbon capture system and power-to-gas for residential building and EVs, five optimal scheduling strategies considering EVs charging/discharging, co-dispatch of EVs and IES, and stationary battery characteristic are proposed. Optimization objectives, such as annual total cost (ATC), annual carbon emission (ACE) and total grid interaction (TGI), considering configuration and operation scheduling for IES under five scenarios can be determined through augmented ε-constraint and entropy weight-TOPSIS method, furthermore the impacts of carbon tax, battery degradation cost and the number of EVs on system performances are also studied. The results indicated that optimal ATC of IES is 6361.8 thousand yuan in Case 4 considering EVs ordered charging/discharging, optimum ACE and TGI are 4711.5 t and 2850.7 MWh in Case 5 with EVs ordered charging/discharging and state of fixed battery. Peak values and durations for charging/discharging electricity of fixed battery decrease in Case 4 and 5. This research offers a innovative idea for optimal design and operational management of integrated energy system with EVs orderly charging/discharging.