Warm Climate Regions Research Articles

Development of revisedR1 thermal energy efficiency guidelines for energy from waste plants

Energy from Waste (EfW) offers a means of generating usable energy from waste resources, which would otherwise go to landfill. The R1 energy efficiency formula developed by the European Commission is widely used in the assessment of the thermal energy efficiency of an EfW facility. The assessment of the thermal energy efficiency of an EfW plant is critical as this determines whether the facility passes as an energy generation or disposal facility impacting on whether the facility pays waste levy or not. The adoption of the R1 formula ‘as is’ disadvantages smaller-sized plants and plants operating in warm climate regions, which impacts the heat demand as well as the efficiency of electricity generation. This study presents a review of a range of external factors, such as size and climate, and their impacts on the calculation of thermal energy efficiency. A key contribution is the development of mathematical relations to be used as sub-criteria in conjunction with the European R1 formula in considering the impacts of these external variants. Climate and size correction factors have consequently been developed, and a means of applying the R1 formula to alternative end products such as biochar and biofuels has been proposed. The work offers a worked example to show how the sub-criteria can be used in practice specifically in the Australian context. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Simulation study on the operating characteristics of the heat pipe for combined evaporative cooling of computer room air-conditioning system

In order to improve the energy efficiency of air conditioning systems in computer rooms, this paper proposed a new concept of integrating evaporative cooling air-conditioning system with heat pipes. Based on a computer room in Shenyang, China, a mathematical model was built to perform transient simulations of the new system. The annual dynamical performance of the new system was then compared with a typical conventional computer room air-conditioning system. The result showed that the new integrated air-conditioning system had better energy efficiency, i.e. 31.31% reduction in energy consumption and 29.49% increase in COP (coefficient of performance), due to the adoption of evaporative condenser and the separate type heat pipe technology. Further study also revealed that the incorporated heat pipes enabled a 36.88% of decrease in the operation duration of the vapor compressor, and a 53.86% of reduction for the activation times of the compressor, which could lead to a longer lifespan of the compressor. The new integrated evaporative cooling air-conditioning system was also tested in different climate regions. It showed that the energy saving of the new system was greatly affected by climate, and it had the best effect in cold and dry regions like Shenyang with up to 31.31% energy saving. In some warm and humid climate regions like Guangzhou, the energy saving could be achieved up to 13.66%.

Biological Wastewater Treatment in Warm Climate Regions Volume II

Biological Wastewater Treatment in Warm Climate Regions gives a state-of-the-art presentation of the science and technology of biological wastewater treatment, particularly domestic sewage. The book covers the main treatment processes used worldwide with wastewater treatment in warm climate regions given a particular emphasis where simple, affordable and sustainable solutions are required. This comprehensive book presents in a clear and informative way the basic principles of biological wastewater treatment, including theory and practice, and covering conception, design and operation. In order to ensure the practical and didactic view of the book, 371 illustrations, 322 summary tables and 117 examples are included. All major wastewater treatment processes are covered by full and interlinked design examples which are built up throughout the book, from the determination of wastewater characteristics, the impact of discharge into rivers and lakes, the design of several wastewater treatment processes and the design of sludge treatment and disposal units. The 55 chapters are divided into 7 parts over two volumes: Volume One: (1) Introduction to wastewater characteristics, treatment and disposal; (2) Basic principles of wastewater treatment; (3) Stabilisation ponds; (4) Anaerobic reactors; Volume Two: (5) Activated sludge; (6) Aerobic biofilm reactors; (7) Sludge treatment and disposal. As well as being an ideal textbook, Biological Wastewater Treatment in Warm Climate Regions is an important reference for practising professionals such as engineers, biologists, chemists and environmental scientists, acting in consulting companies, water authorities and environmental agencies. ISBN: 9781843391074 (Print) ISBN: 9781780402703 (eBook)

Biological Wastewater Treatment in Warm Climate Regions Volume I

Biological Wastewater Treatment in Warm Climate Regions gives a state-of-the-art presentation of the science and technology of biological wastewater treatment, particularly domestic sewage. The book covers the main treatment processes used worldwide with wastewater treatment in warm climate regions given a particular emphasis where simple, affordable and sustainable solutions are required. This comprehensive book presents in a clear and informative way the basic principles of biological wastewater treatment, including theory and practice, and covering conception, design and operation. In order to ensure the practical and didactic view of the book, 371 illustrations, 322 summary tables and 117 examples are included. All major wastewater treatment processes are covered by full and interlinked design examples which are built up throughout the book, from the determination of wastewater characteristics, the impact of discharge into rivers and lakes, the design of several wastewater treatment processes and the design of sludge treatment and disposal units. The 55 chapters are divided into 7 parts over two volumes: Volume One: (1) Introduction to wastewater characteristics, treatment and disposal; (2) Basic principles of wastewater treatment; (3) Stabilisation ponds; (4) Anaerobic reactors; Volume Two: (5) Activated sludge; (6) Aerobic biofilm reactors; (7) Sludge treatment and disposal. As well as being an ideal textbook, Biological Wastewater Treatment in Warm Climate Regions is an important reference for practising professionals such as engineers, biologists, chemists and environmental scientists, acting in consulting companies, water authorities and environmental agencies. ISBN: 9781843390022 (Print) ISBN: 9781780402734 (eBook)

Production and Consumption of Homegrown Produce and Fish by Noncommercial Aquaponics Gardeners

Aquaponics is the integration of hydroponics and aquaculture into a single food production system. The aims of this paper are to describe production practices and costs among noncommercial aquaponics gardeners, and identify factors related to homegrown food consumption using a survey. The sample size was 399 respondents from 24 countries. The median aquaponics system was 350 gallons (1,325 liters) in volume, 100 square feet (9 square meters) in size, and cost respondents US$500 to US$999 annually. Respondents consumed homegrown aquaponics plants far more often than they consumed fish. The primary factors that affected weekly homegrown plant consumption were location in warm climates, which allows for a longer growing season and likely lower input costs; an interest in improving diet; size of aquaponics garden; and years of experience. Respondents with high school or less education consumed homegrown fish and crops more often than those with college or graduate education, indicating that aquaponics may contribute to community food security at the household level for these individuals. Noncommercial aquaponics gardens have significantly higher yearly costs compared to soil-based gardens, so the participants who are attracted to aquaponics (typically middle-aged men with high levels of education) may not be food insecure, which weakens the case for aquaponics as a means of improving food security. Based on our findings, further research on this topic and other work to expand aquaponics to improve community food security should focus on low-cost yet productive aquaponics systems in warm climate regions and among more diverse populations.

Herbaceous Peony in Warm Climate: Modelling Stem Elongation and Growers Profit Responses to Dormancy Conditions

We analyzed data collected for the herbaceous peony cultivated in a warm climate region and stored in winter under three chilling constant temperatures. We used quadratic regression to model stem elongation responses to winter dormancy conditions, and the logistic function to model the weekly stems elongation. The predicted maximum stem length from the first model was used as the input parameter for the second model. More than 4,000 data for various: 1) chilling constant temperatures during the dormancy, 2) dormancy duration, and 3) germination duration were used. The models were applied to determine the optimal amount of chill units. For this purpose, two criteria were used in different versions of modelling: the maximal stem length and the maximum profit of growers. For the two chilling temperatures, 2° C and 6° C, the results were very close one to another for the first criterion and significantly different for the second one. For the third chilling temperature of 10° C the model failed to determine the optimal amount of chill units. The inverse confidence interval method for statistical testing of the optimal amount of chill units was used.

Effects of the Tillage Technology and the Forecrop on Weeds in Stands of Winter Wheat

The semipilot-scale field experiment was established in the cadastre of the village Letkovice in the South Moravian Region (Czech Republic). The study area was situated in a warm climatic region T2. Winter wheat was cultivated in two variants of tillage, viz. conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) and after three different forecrops (fodder beet, late potatoes, and broad (faba) bean). Weed infestation of wheat stands was evaluated in spring seasons of 2007 and 2008, always before the application of herbicides. Numbers of weed specimens and their species were defined by means of a calculation method. Recorded data were processed by means of multidimensional analyses of ecological data, viz. Data Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Redundancy Analysis (RDA). Within the study period, altogether 22 weed species were identified in all variants with different tillage technologies and different forecrops. In the MT variant, the degree of winter wheat stand infestation with weeds was lower. As far as the forecrops were concerned, the most and the least intensive degrees of infestation were recorded on plots with faba bean and late potatoes, respectively.

Changes and trends in maximum, minimum and mean temperature series in Iran

AbstractThe variations of Iran temperature is studied during 1961–2010. Mann–Kendall tests show a general dominating positive temperature trend over most parts of Iran with the rate of change varying from 0.09 to 0.38 °C decade−1. Also, the minimum temperature increase (0.34 °C decade−1) is greater than maximum temperature (0.15 °C decade−1). A more definite trend of warming occurs in summer and spring than winter and autumn. Moreover, the results show that the warm climate regions in Iran are warming at a higher rate than cold climate regions. Pettitt's test also suggesting the abrupt upward change in mean annual temperature, occurs in the late 1990s.

Database for Herbaceous Peony Cultivated in Warm Climate Regions: Effects of Temperature on Plant Dormancy and Growth

This article introduces the first database for developmental parameters of the herbaceous peony cultivated in a warm climate region. Data on the effect of temperature during dormancy and growth parameters are presented for 2,232 plants of two commercial cultivars exposed to 14 different temperature regimes: 15-18 dates of dormancy release for each regime and 10 weekly measurements of 6 growth parameters for each plant. Diversity of developmental response was examined with a Tukey test. The efficacy of the database for the regulation of the developmental processes and production ability is demonstrated with numerous examples of estimated growth rate of stems. The sigmoid nature of the growth curves is noted. The database could be used for research on plant physiology of peony and other geophytes, as well as for the prediction of effective commercial flower production. The database is available at http://www.mop-zafon.org.il/files/DB18_Sept_2014.xlsx.

Comparison of simple, small, full-scale sewage treatment systems in Brazil: UASB-maturation ponds-coarse filter; UASB-horizontal subsurface-flow wetland; vertical-flow wetland (first stage of French system).

This paper presents a comparison between three simple sewage treatment lines involving natural processes: (a) upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor-three maturation ponds in series-coarse rock filter; (b) UASB reactor-horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetland; and (c) vertical-flow constructed wetlands treating raw sewage (first stage of the French system). The evaluation was based on several years of practical experience with three small full-scale plants receiving the same influent wastewater (population equivalents of 220, 60 and 100 inhabitants) in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The comparison included interpretation of concentrations and removal efficiencies based on monitoring data (organic matter, solids, nitrogen, phosphorus, coliforms and helminth eggs), together with an evaluation of practical aspects, such as land and volume requirements, sludge production and handling, plant management, clogging and others. Based on an integrated evaluation of all aspects involved, it is worth emphasizing that each system has its own specificities, and no generalization can be made on the best option. The overall conclusion is that the three lines are suitable for sewage treatment in small communities in warm-climate regions.

VLIV ODLIŠNÉHO ZPRACOVÁNÍ PŮDY NA ZAPLEVELENÍ JARNÍHO JEČMENE V PODMÍNKÁCH SRÁŽKOVĚ SUŠŠÍ OBLASTI ČESKÉ REPUBLIKY

The impact of soil tillage on weeds in spring barley was observed on the field trial. The field trial was established in very warm and dry climatic region (experimental field station in Žabčice, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno, Czech Republic). In the experiment there was used 7-strip crop rotation and three variants of soil tillage: conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT), when soil is shallow loosened and no tillage (NT) what means direct sowing without any soil tillage. The weed infestation was evaluated by counting method before herbicide application. Analysis of va­rian­ce (ANOVA) and then LSD methods, DCA (Detrended Correspondence Analysis) and CCA (Canonical Correspondence Analysis) were used for evaluation of results. The obtained results showed, that different soil tillage did not statistically influenced weed infestation in spring barley. The number of weed species depended on the depth of soil tillage, the variant of minimum tillage had lower number of weed species. These species were more common on the variant of conventional tillage: Chenopodium album, Silene noctiflora, Sinapis arvensis, Veronica polita. The variant of minimum tillage was more suitable for these species: Cirsium arvense, Convolvulus arvensis, Amaranthus sp., Galium aparine. On the variant of direct so­wing there appeared mainly these species: Sonchus oleraceus, Lactuca serriola, Tripleurospermum inodorum.

Detection of DNA and Ploidy Variation within Vegetatively Propagated Zoysiagrass Cultivars

Zoysiagrass (Zoysia sp.) is used as a warm-season turfgrass for lawns, parks, and golf courses in the warm, humid and transitional climatic regions of the United States. Zoysiagrass is an allotetraploid species (2n = 4x = 40) and some cultivars are known to easily self- and cross-pollinate. Previous studies showed that genetic variability in the clonal cultivars Emerald and Diamond was likely the result of contamination (seed production or mechanical transfer) or mislabeling. To determine the extent of genetic variability of vegetatively propagated zoysiagrass cultivars, samples were collected from six commercially available zoysiagrass cultivars (Diamond, Emerald, Empire, JaMur, Meyer, Zeon) from five states (Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas). Two of the newest cultivar releases (Geo and Atlantic) were to serve as outgroups. Where available, one sample from university research plots and two samples from sod farms were collected for each cultivar per state. Forty zoysiagrass simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and flow cytometry were used to compare genetic and ploidy variation of each collected sample to a reference sample. Seventy-five samples were genotyped and an unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean clustering revealed four groups. Group I (Z. japonica) included samples of ‘Meyer’ and Empire11 (‘Empire’ sample at location #11), Group II (Z. japonica × Z. pacifica) included samples of ‘Emerald’ and ‘Geo’, Group III (Z. matrella) included samples of ‘Diamond’ and ‘Zeon’, and Group IV (Z. japonica) consisted of samples from ‘Empire’, ‘JaMur’, ‘Atlantic’, and Meyer3 (‘Meyer’ at sample location #3). Samples of ‘Empire’, ‘Atlantic’, and ‘JaMur’ were indistinguishable with the markers used. Four samples were found to have alleles different from the respective reference cultivar, including two samples of ‘Meyer’, one sample of ‘Empire’, and one sample of ‘Emerald’. Three of these samples were from Texas and one of these samples was from Florida. Three of the four samples that were different from the reference cultivar were university samples. In addition, one sample, Empire11, was found to be an octoploid (2n = 8x = 80). For those samples that had a fingerprint different from the reference cultivar, contamination, selfing, and/or hybridization with other zoysiagrasses may have occurred.

Parâmetros anátomo-estruturais de orgãos reprodutivos de ovinos sem raça definida (SRD) nativos do Estado da Paraíba, com e sem bipartição escrotal: estudo do escroto e funículo espermático

Foram utilizados 42 ovinos sem raça definida, divididos segundo a configuração escrotal. Destes animais, 12 foram utilizados na investigação da biometria testicular e histologia da pele escrotal. Os demais foram destinados ao estudo do funículo espermático. Os animais foram agrupados em um grupo de 21 animais sem bipartição escrotal (GEI) e 21 com bipartição escrotal, (GEII), esta não atingindo 50% do comprimento do eixo longitudinal do escroto. Em cada grupo, em 6 animais foram coletados fragmentos da pele do escroto e em 5 do funículo espermáticos, e processados em rotina histológica e analisados em microscopia de luz; e em 10 foram injetados látex na artéria testicular para obtenção de moldes vasculares e obtenção do comprimento da artéria. Quando comparados os grupos GEI e GEII, não foram encontradas diferenças estatísticas significativas (p<0,05) entre a espessura do escroto (epiderme e derme), constituição histológica da pele escrotal, número de glândulas sudoríparas por área, comprimento do funículo espermático ou parâmetros biométricos testiculares. Entretanto, o comprimento total das artérias testiculares do GEI foi maior do que o GEII (p<0,05). Concluiu-se, com base nos parâmetros morfológicos analisados, que a bipartição escrotal em ovinos não influenciou na estrutura da pele, funículo ou biometria testicular quando comparado aos animais que não apresentavam esta característica. Outros estudos merecem atenção para desmistificar o porquê do aparecimento dessa característica em ovinos e se esta característica é ou não desejável para melhoria na produção desses animais em regiões de clima quente.

Management practices impact vine carbohydrate status to a greater extent than vine productivity.

Light pruning and deficit irrigation regimes are practices which are widely used in high yielding commercial vineyards in the warm climate regions of Australia. Little information is available on their impacts on carbohydrate dynamics in vegetative organs within and between seasons, and on the resulting plant capacity to maintain productivity and ripen fruits. This study was conducted to address this gap in knowledge over five vintages on Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon in the Sunraysia region of Victoria, Australia. Lighter pruning did not change the total carbohydrates concentration and composition in wood and roots within seasons in Cabernet Franc and Shiraz. However, the total carbohydrate pool (starch and soluble sugars) at the end of dormancy increased under lighter pruning, due to higher vine size, associated with retention and growth of old-wood (trunk and cordons). Water deficit negatively impacted trunk and leaf starch concentrations, over the day and within seasons in Cabernet Sauvignon. Soluble sugars concentrations in these tissues tended to be higher under limited water supply, possibly due to higher sugar mobilization as photosynthesis decreased. Trunk carbohydrate concentrations markedly varied within and between seasons, highlighting the importance of interactive factors such as crop load and climate on carbon status. The period between fruit-set and véraison was shown to be critical for its impact on the balance between carbon accretion and depletion, especially under water deficit. The lower leaf and trunk starch concentration under water deficit resulted in a decrease of yield components at harvest, while similar yields were reached for all pruning systems. The sugar allocated to berries at harvest remained remarkably stable for all practices and seasons, irrespective of vine yield and carbohydrate status in vegetative organs in Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Database for Herbaceous Peony Cultivated in Warm Climate Regions: Effects of Temperature on Plant Dormancy and Growth

Database for Herbaceous Peony Cultivated in Warm Climate Regions: Effects of Temperature on Plant Dormancy and Growth

Temperature Dependent Power Modeling of Photovoltaics

Photovoltaic (PV) systems in the USA are often perceived as useful only in warm and sunny climate regions. However, PV systems can be installed and operated in cold regions as well, including places that get snow. Sunlight is the source of electricity, and thermal heat is not required to generate electricity in PV systems. Given similar irradiation conditions, lower PV-cell temperatures can lead to increases in efficiency, which leads to an increase in power generation, thus allowing the user to benefit more from the PV technology. This study focuses on the relationship between the level of energy production and varying temperatures. Two models have been developed to show temperature effect on photovoltaic systems, using transient systems simulation (TRNSYS), a FORTRAN-based modular program to assess solar conversion and heat transfer. The first model (Model A) ignores temperature and the other (Model B) takes it into consideration. In Model A, the efficiency was assumed to be constant through the year. In Model B, the temperature and the resulting efficiency change of the PV cells are defined according to deviations from the nominal operating cell temperature (NOCT), using equations from the literature. These two models were executed for 236 cities across the USA by using second-generation Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) data. These two models calculate discrete outputs of power density, given irradiance and temperature conditions. Comparative analyses were made between these two models. The power output differences for 236 cities across the USA were used to generate contour maps indicating a continuous surface of differences between these two models. Comparing Model B relative to Model A power outputs increase during the months of November to February for the Northeast and the Midwest regions of the USA (16% -20%), whereas they decrease slightly in May to August (-4%). On the other hand, power outputs decrease considerably from May to August for the South and Southwest of the USA (-12% - 15%), whereas they increase slightly from December to February (5%). Geospatial trends show two different behaviours in winter time and in summer time due to ambient temperature.

Economic Analysis of Cashew Nut Processing in India

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) tree grows widely in warm and humid climatic regions of the world. India is leading producer and processor of cashew nuts. Cashew nut processing has undergone lot of developments from traditional to modern processing. Survey was done in various cashew nut processing units in different parts of West Bengal, and a case study is presented regarding economic analysis of a local small scale cashew nut processing plant of 100 kg capacity. Based on the observations, economic analysis of cashew nut processing plant showed that, if the plant be operated with full capacity and efficiency then there would be profit of 1329.07 per day, excluding all expenses. This is quite profitable, but the profit margin could be increased more by plant mechanization and modernization. Processing capacity could be increased with significant reduction in labour requirement and processing time by modernizing the processing plants.

Fiber/Polymeric Compound for High Modulus Polymer Modified Asphalt (PMA)

The road construction sector has made a big research effort in recent decades, mostly aimed at better understanding the behaviour of the asphalt mixes contained in most such pavements. Hence the introduction of new binders, all based on bitumen as in the past but featuring polymers and reinforcements of various nature as well as innovative pavements. Moreover, newer regulations allow better predicting the behaviour of materials and their mixtures once laid, thanks to more rational testing methods. However both asphalt binder and asphalt-aggregate mixture show temperature and time-dependent behaviour. Rutting or permanent deformation is therefore the leading cause of pavement deterioration in temperate and warm climatic regions of the world while low-temperature cracking is a common problem in cold regions.The paper illustrates that the proposed innovative fiber/polymer compound may be potentially considered from now on as a relevant solution for sustainable long life pavements that do not deteriorate structurally, needing only timely surface maintenance and allowing reduced base course thickness (due to enhanced stiffness and fatigue properties) lead to a cost- effective and eco-friendly perpetual pavement design. Polymer Modified Asphalt (PMA) are modified asphalt concrete manufactured by feeding the fiber and/or the polymeric compound into the asphalt plant mixer after the aggregate has been loaded in to the mixer immediately before the bitumen is added. Fiber/polymeric compound asphalts may be preferable technology whenever a pavement is required to perform structural resistance, stiffness and resistance to rutting. One such application could be the manufacturing of ‘high-modulus’ mixes (EME), for laying heavy-duty base courses. These mixes are characterized by great coarse aggregate cohesion and high physical and chemical modified grade bitumens to obtain the EME2 specifications requirements, in particular high stiffness modulus value at 15°C and high fatigue resistance, allowing for reduced pavement thickness and greater longevity.Fiber/Polymer modified Hot Mix Asphalt (PMA) has been claimed to resist rutting since they are less susceptible to reduction of the asphalt cement viscosity with high pavement temperatures during the summer months while the fiber component increase the resistance to tensile stresses and consequent cracking. Laboratory assessment of such materials consisted in the evaluation of the mix compactability, moisture resistance, rutting resistance at 60°C, stiffness modulus at 15°C and 35°C and fatigue resistance at 10°C.

Three-stage hybrid constructed wetland system for wastewater treatment and reuse in warm climate regions

An experimental hybrid constructed wetland system consisting of 3 stages of different wetland configurations (i.e. two vertical flow beds (1.5m2 each) alternating feed-rest cycles followed by a horizontal subsurface flow (2m2) and a free water surface (2m2) wetlands in series) and the quality of its final effluent were evaluated for about one year. Mean overall removal rates were as 97% TSS, 78% COD, 91% BOD5, 94% NH4-N, 46% TN and 4% PO4-P. Vertical flow beds achieved high organic matter retention (77% BOD5) and great nitrification capacity (74% NH4-N removal). Although horizontal and free water surface wetlands accomplished little denitrification, they enabled water disinfection to produce an effluent suitable for various reuse applications. Authors suggest partial bypass from the Imhoff tank to the horizontal subsurface flow wetland so as to provide a carbon source to promote denitrification. The treatment system performed equally well in terms of organic matter and ammonium removal both in warm and cold seasons. However, reduced nitrate retention took place in horizontal and free water surface wetlands in the cold season, presumably due to low denitrification activity at low water temperatures. In general, the three-stage hybrid constructed wetland system has proven to constitute an appropriate ecotechnology for wastewater treatment and reuse in small communities of warm climate areas.

Eight Kind of Typical Asphalt Pavement's Applicability Research for Northern Warm Zone Continental Climate Regions

in order to find a suitable pavement and develop a reasonable pavement design method for southern warm continental climate regions, both experiment roads and finite element simulations are employed in this research. In experiment roads, strain detectors are buried at the bottom of asphalt layers to measure its strains and calculation models. Road design parameters such as road surface deflections and damage predictions such as plastic permanent deformations are calculated and compared between different pavements. Pavement deformation and design control parameter are made. Finally, a suggested reasonable pavement satisfying climate conditions and traffic flow needs is proposed.