Developing a quality assurance model for small military institutions

Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) has a limited manpower, land to manoeuvre and resources. This reason has led the researcher to investigate the effective dimensions of discovering a model for quality assurance in higher education within a military context in Bahrain to compensate for these limitations. The research seeks to assess, through a case study how newly established education institute such as Royal Command and Staff College (RCSC) adapt and assimilates quality assurance systems. Using action research techniques, this case study analyses continual conceptualisation, implementation and evaluation of quality assurance actions over time. The cyclical process through time involves development of a model of quality assurance systems, implementation and evaluation. The study covers the period of the training years 2005/ 2006 to 2006/ 2007. Owing to the nature of this research and study of the complexity of organizational behaviour and change with active intervention, a case study design is adopted. This research approach involves a triangulation of multiple research designs, methods and analysis, which comprise Action Research Group Process, Survey Instruments (questionnaires), and Focus Group Interviews. The study finds that a strategic model of quality implementation emerges as a response to the inputs from the dynamic environment, the aspects of which are particularly ascertained by the actions of committed instructors

Sorption-enhanced Steam Methane Reforming for Combined CO2 Capture and Hydrogen Production: A State-of-the-Art Review

© 2021 The Author(s). The European Commission have just stated that hydrogen would play a major role in the economic recovery of post-COVID-19 EU countries. Hydrogen is recognised as one of the key players in a fossil fuel-free world in decades to come. However, commercially practiced pathways to hydrogen production todays, are associated with a considerable amount of carbon emissions. The Paris Climate Change Agreement has set out plans for an international commitment to reduce carbon emissions within the forthcoming decades. A sustainable hydrogen future would only be achievable if hydrogen production is “designed” to capture such emissions. Today, nearly 98% of global hydrogen production relies on the utilisation of fossil fuels. Among these, steam methane reforming (SMR) boasts the biggest share of nearly 50% of the global generation. SMR processes correspond to a significant amount of carbon emissions at various points throughout the process. Despite the dark side of the SMR processes, they are projected to play a major role in hydrogen production by the first half of this century. This that a sustainable, yet clean short/medium-term hydrogen production is only possible by devising a plan to efficiently capture this co-produced carbon as stated in the latest International Energy Agency (IEA) reports. Here, we have carried out an in-depth technical review of the processes employed in sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming (SE-SMR), an emerging technology in low-carbon SMR, for combined carbon capture and hydrogen production. This paper aims to provide an in-depth review on two key challenging elements of SE-SMR i.e. the advancements in catalysts/adsorbents preparation, and current approaches in process synthesis and optimisation including the employment of artificial intelligence in SE-SMR processes. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is a clear gap in the literature where the above areas have been scrutinised in a systematic and coherent fashion. The gap is even more pronounced in the application of AI in SE-SMR technologies. As a result, this work aims to fill this gap within the scientific literature.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (project “Multiphysics and multiscale modelling for safe and feasible CO2 capture and storage - EP/T033940/1”); UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION IN DUHOK URBAN AREA BY USING GIS TOOLS

Air pollution is becoming a serious challenge in thickly populated areas in the world. The air pollution in Kurdistan region is clearly noticed, especially in areas where pollution sources and human population are concentrated. Urbanization and economic growth are proceeding at a rapid pace, accompanied by increasing emissions of a mixture of greenhouse gases especially from transporting sector, that positively contribute to accelerate climate change around the globe, and also have impacts on public health and vegetation. In order to decrease the effects that caused by atmospheric pollution, suitable monitoring systems are urgently needed that can rapidly and reliably detect and quantify polluting sources and concentration for monitoring by local authorities in order to restrain more damage of the current pollution levels. In this study, GIS with portable gas detector (K-60 IV) KELISAIKE safety equipment, China, have been used to assess the status of NOx, VOCs and noise pollution at 54 randomly selected urban locations of Duhok city. The measurements were taken during the week and weekend days started from 9 am until 4 pm. The results showed that there is a variation in the values of the three variables NOx, VOCs and noise, where the highest values recorded during working days in the locations distributed along the highway and the city center with heavy traffic load and dense human population in comparison to lowest values obtained during weekend days in locations distributed outskirt of the city with lower population and traffic loads. Therefore, likely such connections exist between the urban traffic density and  low air pollution quality within urban locations around Duhok city