Synergies between BECCS and Biochar - Maximizing Carbon Sequestration Potential by Recycling Wood Ash

Bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and biochar are key carbon-negative technologies. In this study, synergies between these technologies were explored by using ash from wood combustion, a byproduct from BECCS, as an additive (0, 5, 10, 20, and 50 wt %) in biochar production (wood pyrolysis at 450 °C). The addition of wood ash catalyzed biochar formation and increased the yield of fixed carbon (FC) (per dry, ash-free feedstock), i.e., the sequestrable carbon per spruce wood input. At the highest ash addition (50%), 45% less wood was needed to yield the same amount of FC. Since the land area available for growing biomass is becoming scarcer, our approach significantly increases biochar’s potential to sequester carbon. However, increasing the feedstock ash content results in less feedstock carbon available for conversion into FC. Consequently, the yield of FC per pyrolysis run (based on dry feedstock) in the 50% ash-amended material was lower than in the control. An economic analysis showed that the 20% ash-amended biochar brings the biggest cost savings over the control with a 15% decrease in CO₂-abatement costs. Biochar–ash composites increase the carbon sequestration potential of biochar significantly, reduce the CO₂-abatement costs, and recycle nutrients which can result in increased plant growth in turn and more biomass for BECCS, bringing synergies for BECCS and biochar deployment

Implementation of Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) Algorithm in COMBATXXI using JDAFS

The implementation of the Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) algorithm into the Combined Arms Analysis Tool for the 21st Century (COMBATXXI) project is an extension of work completed in FY13. The TRADOC Analysis Center - Methods and Research Office (TRAC-MRO) sponsored this iteration in an attempt to test the feasibility implementing the algorithm into the COMBATXXI simulation environment. For further details on the specific algorithm of more background information see appendix and the previous technical report.TRAC-MROTRAC Project Code # 060025Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Global distribution of grid connected electrical energy storage systems

This article gives an overview of grid connected electrical energy storage systems worldwide, based on public available data. Technologies considered in this study are pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES), compressed air energy storage (CAES), sodium-sulfur batteries (NaS), lead-acid batteries, redox-flow batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries (NiCd) and lithium-ion batteries. As the research indicates, the worldwide installed capacity of grid connected electrical energy storage systems is approximately 154 GW. This corresponds to a share of 5.5 % of the worldwide installed generation capacity. Furthermore, the article gives an overview of the historical development of installed and used storage systems worldwide. Subsequently, the focus is on each considered technology concerning the current storage size, number of plants and location.In summary it can be stated, PHES is the most commonly used technology worldwide, whereas electrochemical technologies are increasingly gaining in importance. Regarding the distribution of grid connected storage systems reveals the share of installed storage capacity is in Europe and Eastern Asia twice as high as in North America

Longitudinal Metabolomic Profiling of Amino Acids and Lipids across Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnancy is characterized by a complexity of metabolic processes that may impact fetal development and ultimately, infant health outcomes. However, our understanding of whole body maternal and fetal metabolism during this critical life stage remains incomplete. The objective of this study is to utilize metabolomics to profile longitudinal patterns of fasting maternal metabolites among a cohort of non-diabetic, healthy pregnant women in order to advance our understanding of changes in protein and lipid concentrations across gestation, the biochemical pathways by which they are metabolized and to describe variation in maternal metabolites between ethnic groups. Among 160 pregnant women, amino acids, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates, keto-bodies and non-esterified fatty acids were detected by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, while polar lipids were detected through flow-injected mass spectrometry. The maternal plasma concentration of several essential and non-essential amino acids, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, free carnitine, acetylcarnitine, phosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins significantly decreased across pregnancy. Concentrations of several TCA intermediates increase as pregnancy progresses, as well as the keto-body β-hydroxybutyrate. Ratios of specific acylcarnitines used as indicators of metabolic pathways suggest a decreased beta-oxidation rate and increased carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 enzyme activity with advancing gestation. Decreasing amino acid concentrations likely reflects placental uptake and tissue biosynthesis. The absence of any increase in plasma non-esterified fatty acids is unexpected in the catabolic phase of later pregnancy and may reflect enhanced placental fatty acid uptake and utilization for fetal tissue growth. While it appears that energy production through the TCA cycle increases as pregnancy progresses, decreasing patterns of free carnitine and acetylcarnitine as well as increased carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 rate and β-hydroxybutyrate levels suggest a concomitant upregulation of ketogenesis to ensure sufficient energy supply in the fasting state. Several differences in metabolomic profiles between Hispanic and non-Hispanic women demonstrate phenotypic variations in prenatal metabolism which should be considered in future studies

Magnetically-coupled piston pump for high-purity gas applications

Experiments based on noble elements such as gaseous or liquid argon or xenon utilize the ionization and scintillation properties of the target materials to detect radiation-induced recoils. A requirement for high light and charge yields is to reduce electronegative impurities well below the ppb level. To achieve this, the target material is continuously circulated in the gas phase through a purifier and returned to the detector. Additionally, the low backgrounds necessary dictate low-Rn-emanation rates from all components that contact the gas. Since commercial pumps often introduce electronegative impurities from lubricants on internal components or through small air leaks, and are not designed to meet the radiopurity requirements, custom-built pumps are an advantageous alternative. A new pump has been developed in Muenster in cooperation with the nEXO group at Stanford University and the nEXO/XENON group at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute based on a magnetically-coupled piston in a hermetically sealed low-Rn-emanating vessel. This pump delivers high performance for noble gases, reaching more than 210 standard liters per minute (slpm) with argon and more than 170 slpm with xenon while maintaining a compression of up to 1.9 bar, demonstrating its capability for noble gas detectors and other applications requiring high standards of gas purity.Comment: 11 pages, 18 figure

Расчет электротермического конденсатора для электротермических установок

Актуальность данной работы заключается в том, что электротермический конденсатор предназначен для повышения коэффициента мощности электротермических установок частотой от 0,5 до 10 кГц, поэтому он находит широкое применение в электроэнергетике, а также в машиностроении, на металлургических заводах везде, где возникает необходимость использования индукционного нагрева металлов токами высокой частоты. Существующие на данный момент электротермические конденсаторы выполняются с различной изоляцией и на различное напряжение. Постепенно производство электротермических конденсаторов переходит с бумажной на пленочную или бумажно-пленочную изоляцию, что позволяет уменьшить габариты в связи с более высокой электрической прочностью пленки и улучшить экологичность конденсатора.Die Relevanz dieser Arbeit liegt in der Tatsache, dass die elektroKondensator entwickelt, um die Leistung elektrothermische Anlagen Koeffizient Frequenz von 0,5 bis 10 kHz zu erhöhen, so ist es weit verbreitet in der Energiewirtschaft sowie im Maschinenbau, Hüttenwerke überall dort, wo es einen Bedarf für die Induktionserwärmung Metalle der hochfrequenten Ströme. Bestehende an den Moment elektro Kondensatoren hergestellt mit verschiedenen Isolation und für verschiedene Spannungen. Nach und nach elektro Herstellung von Kondensatoren geht das Papier auf der Papierfolie oder Isolationsfolie, wodurch die Größe auf einen hohen elektrischen Schichtwiderstand aufgrund zu reduzieren und die Umweltfreundlichkeit des Kondensators zu verbessern

Age- and gender-related normal left ventricular deformation assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking

Background: Assessment of left (LV) ventricular function is one of the most important tasks of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Impairment of LV deformation is a strong predictor of cardiovascular outcome in various cardiac diseases like ischemic heart disease or cardiomyopathies. The aim of the study was to provide reference values for myocardial deformation derived from the CMR feature tracking imaging (FTI) algorithm in a reference population of healthy volunteers. Methods: FTI was applied to standard short axis and 2-, 3- and 4-chamber views of vector-ECG gated CMR cine SSFP sequences of 150 strictly selected healthy volunteers (75 male/female) of three age tertiles (mean age 45.8yrs). Global peak and mean radial, circumferential and longitudinal endo- and myocardial systolic strain values as well as early diastolic strain rates were measured using FTI within a standard protocol on a 1.5T whole body MR scanner. Results: Global peak systolic values were 36.3 ± 8.7% for radial, −27.2 ± 4.0% for endocardial circumferential, −21.3 ± 3.3% for myocardial circumferential, −23.4 ± 3.4% for endocardial longitudinal and −21.6 ± 3.2% for myocardial longitudinal strain. Global peak values were -2.1 ± 0.5s−1 for radial, 2.1 ± 0.6s−1 for circumferential endocardial, 1.7 ± 0.5s−1 for circumferential myocardial, 1.8 (1.5-2.2)s−1 for longitudinal endocardial, 1.6 (1.4-2.0)s−1 for longitudinal myocardial early diastolic strain rates. Men showed a higher radial strain than women whereas the circumferential and longitudinal strains were lower resulting in less negative values. Circumferential and longitudinal strain rates were significantly higher in female subjects. Radial strain increased significantly with age whereas the diastolic function measured by the radial, circumferential and longitudinal strain rates showed a decrease. The coefficients of variation determined in ten further subjects, who underwent two CMR examinations within 12 days, were −4.8% for circumferential and −4.5% for longitudinal endocardial mean strains. Conclusions: Myocardial deformation analysis using FTI is a novel technique and robust when applied to standard cine CMR images providing the possibility of a reliable, objective quantification of global LV deformation. Since strain values and strain rates differed partly between genders as well as between age groups, the application of specific reference values as provided by this study is recommendable