Methodology of Energy Management in Housing and Buildings of Regions with Hot and Dry Climates

In this chapter, power consumption and electrical demand in buildings or housing due to the utilization of HVAC systems are shown to be intimately linked to construction materials. This work proposes a methodology of energy management intended to analyze and evaluate actions aimed at saving and efficient use of electric energy of HVAC systems applied to regions with hot and dry climates. The methodology consists of: (1) characterization of local climatology using the concept of degree-hours (DH). (2) Utilization of a Fourier-type mathematical model to calculate hourly temperature using only daily maximum and minimum temperatures as well as an empirical model to compute energy efficiency (EER) of air-cooled air conditioning units. (3) Thermal simulation applying a software developed by the authors based on ASHRAE\u27s Transfer Functions methodology to calculate hourly cooling loads, the adequate sizing of air conditioning equipment and the rate of heat extraction. (4) System analysis, identification of improvement actions, evaluation of viable alternatives of saving and efficient use of energy. The advantage of this proposal is its flexibility because it can be applied to any climatology and easily adaptable to the conditions of energy usage anywhere in the world

The Seventeenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys: Complete Release of MaNGA, MaStar and APOGEE-2 Data

This paper documents the seventeenth data release (DR17) from the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys; the fifth and final release from the fourth phase (SDSS-IV). DR17 contains the complete release of the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey, which reached its goal of surveying over 10,000 nearby galaxies. The complete release of the MaNGA Stellar Library (MaStar) accompanies this data, providing observations of almost 30,000 stars through the MaNGA instrument during bright time. DR17 also contains the complete release of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 (APOGEE-2) survey which publicly releases infra-red spectra of over 650,000 stars. The main sample from the Extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS), as well as the sub-survey Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS) data were fully released in DR16. New single-fiber optical spectroscopy released in DR17 is from the SPectroscipic IDentification of ERosita Survey (SPIDERS) sub-survey and the eBOSS-RM program. Along with the primary data sets, DR17 includes 25 new or updated Value Added Catalogs (VACs). This paper concludes the release of SDSS-IV survey data. SDSS continues into its fifth phase with observations already underway for the Milky Way Mapper (MWM), Local Volume Mapper (LVM) and Black Hole Mapper (BHM) surveys

Madera plástica con paja de trigo y matriz polimérica

The objective of the research was to develop plastic timber with wheat straw and polymer matrix. In the Mexicali Valley in Baja California, Mexico, the agricultural activities and the maquiladora industry are the main source of income in the region.  However, agricultural activities generate wastes that contribute heavily to pollution of Mexicali and its valley. The burning of agricultural waste is a traditional practice in the Valley, and is done in order to prepare the soil for the next crop; it consist in open burning of crop residues from crops like wheat straw, corn, safflower and barley. In this project we used the residue of wheat straw as reinforcement in a polymer matrix epoxy resin to produce a composite material and get a plastic wood. The results show that the wooden plate with wheat straw and plastic polymer matrix has mechanical properties such as hardness, flexure, moisture absorption, and density comparable to common pine wood alder, used in Mexicali region. Finally, the material obtained shows that it is possible to find substitutes for wood and show an alternative use for wheat straw and thus contribute to the reduction of pollution. The results of the mechanical properties made to conclude that these composite materials can be used in the construction industry or wood substitute such as compressed sawdust or petatillo.El objetivo de esta investigación fue elaborar madera plástica con paja de trigo y matriz polimérica. En el valle de Mexicali en Baja California, México, las actividades agrícolas y la industria maquiladora constituyen la principal fuente económica de la región. Sin embargo, las actividades agrícolas generan residuos que contribuyen en gran medida a la contaminación de Mexicali y su valle. La quema de residuos agrícolas es una práctica tradicional en el valle y se realiza con el objeto de preparar la tierra para la próxima cosecha. Consiste en quemar a cielo abierto los residuos de cosechas de cultivos como paja de trigo, maíz, cártamo y cebada. En este proyecto se utilizó el residuo de paja de trigo como material de refuerzo en una matriz polimérica de resina epoxi para elaborar un material compuesto y obtener una madera plástica. Los resultados muestran que la placa de madera plástica con paja de trigo y matriz polimérica posee propiedades mecánicas como dureza, flexión, absorción de humedad y densidad comparables a las de las maderas comunes de pino y alder, utilizadas en la región de Mexicali. Finalmente, el material obtenido muestra que es posible encontrar sustitutos para la madera, también plantea una alternativa de uso para la paja de trigo, con lo que se ayuda a reducir la contaminación. Los resultados de las propiedades mecánicas permiten concluir que estos materiales compuestos se pueden utilizar en la industria de la construcción o sustituir madera tal como el comprimido de aserrín o petatillo

Madera plástica con paja de trigo y matriz polimérica

The objective of the research was to develop plastic timber with wheat straw and polymer matrix. In the Mexicali Valley in Baja California, Mexico, the agricultural activities and the maquiladora industry are the main source of income in the region.  However, agricultural activities generate wastes that contribute heavily to pollution of Mexicali and its valley. The burning of agricultural waste is a traditional practice in the Valley, and is done in order to prepare the soil for the next crop; it consist in open burning of crop residues from crops like wheat straw, corn, safflower and barley. In this project we used the residue of wheat straw as reinforcement in a polymer matrix epoxy resin to produce a composite material and get a plastic wood. The results show that the wooden plate with wheat straw and plastic polymer matrix has mechanical properties such as hardness, flexure, moisture absorption, and density comparable to common pine wood alder, used in Mexicali region. Finally, the material obtained shows that it is possible to find substitutes for wood and show an alternative use for wheat straw and thus contribute to the reduction of pollution. The results of the mechanical properties made to conclude that these composite materials can be used in the construction industry or wood substitute such as compressed sawdust or petatillo.El objetivo de esta investigación fue elaborar madera plástica con paja de trigo y matriz polimérica. En el valle de Mexicali en Baja California, México, las actividades agrícolas y la industria maquiladora constituyen la principal fuente económica de la región. Sin embargo, las actividades agrícolas generan residuos que contribuyen en gran medida a la contaminación de Mexicali y su valle. La quema de residuos agrícolas es una práctica tradicional en el valle y se realiza con el objeto de preparar la tierra para la próxima cosecha. Consiste en quemar a cielo abierto los residuos de cosechas de cultivos como paja de trigo, maíz, cártamo y cebada. En este proyecto se utilizó el residuo de paja de trigo como material de refuerzo en una matriz polimérica de resina epoxi para elaborar un material compuesto y obtener una madera plástica. Los resultados muestran que la placa de madera plástica con paja de trigo y matriz polimérica posee propiedades mecánicas como dureza, flexión, absorción de humedad y densidad comparables a las de las maderas comunes de pino y alder, utilizadas en la región de Mexicali. Finalmente, el material obtenido muestra que es posible encontrar sustitutos para la madera, también plantea una alternativa de uso para la paja de trigo, con lo que se ayuda a reducir la contaminación. Los resultados de las propiedades mecánicas permiten concluir que estos materiales compuestos se pueden utilizar en la industria de la construcción o sustituir madera tal como el comprimido de aserrín o petatillo