Economic feasibility of small wind turbines for domestic consumers in Egypt based on the new feed-in tariff

This paper provides an overview of the wind power potential at different regions in Egypt, along the Mediterranean and Red Sea, and the Western desert. A further technical and economic assessment is conducted for the electricity generation with 8 different small wind turbines at 17 locations. The annual electricity generation from selected wind turbines is evaluated. The obtained data are presented and discussed investigating the net present value and the payback period analyzing the profitability of selected wind turbines. The dependence of the turbine profitability from the feed-in tariff is specifically addressed

Experimental measurement technique for the assessment of the fuel crossover diffusion coefficient in the membrane electrode assembly of a direct methanol fuel cell

Since the cross-over still seems to be the main issue of the direct methanol fuel cells, an experimental evaluation of the diffusive cross-over is performed. Even if the relationship of the rate through the membrane is the sum of the three terms of diffusive, osmotic and drag, the diffusive component is also present at open circuit lowering the Open Circuit Voltage of the single cell up to 50 % with respect to the Nernst potential. The goal of the research is to develop a direct measurement technique of the crossover that can provide the effective values of the parameters that characterize the membrane electrode assembly. The experimental set up consists in the pressure, flow and temperature control and acquisition using Labview. A sensitive analysis for three values of temperatures at 60°C, 65°C and 70°C is performed for first. Then, a small overpressure was generated in the cathode side by a valve located at the cathode outlet. A set of pressure were analysed for 0, 30 and 90 mbar of overpressure at the cathode. The tested fuel cell has a commercial Nafion 117 membrane and carbon paper gas diffusion layers 700 cm2 large. Preliminary results show that the differential concentration term seems to be significantly larger than the osmotic term. The diffusion coefficients are useful for fuel cell modelling and for the calibration of the operating conditions in the sensor less DMFC systems

Assessment of CO2 bubble generation influence on direct methanol fuel cell performance

Fuel cells fed directly by liquid methanol represent a class of suitable devices for supply portable small power applications. To become a market attractive technology some issues must be properly addressed and resolved. The presence of gaseous CO2 generated in the anode channels is the main issue as it can hinder the free surface of the Gas Diffusion Layer reducing the active area and the methanol flux through the porous media towards the catalyst layer. In this work the influence of gas phase fraction on the cell performance and the relationship with the operating parameters such as air flow rate, methanol-water solution flow rate and current density is investigated. The characterization of CO2 bubbles flow in the anode channel is carried out

Economic Feasibility of Small Wind Turbines for Domestic Consumers in Egypt Based on the New Feed-in Tariff

Abstract This paper provides an overview of the wind power potential at different regions in Egypt, along the Mediterranean and Red Sea, and the Western desert. A further technical and economic assessment is conducted for the electricity generation with 8 different small wind turbines at 17 locations. The annual electricity generation from selected wind turbines is evaluated. The obtained data are presented and discussed investigating the net present value and the payback period analyzing the profitability of selected wind turbines. The dependence of the turbine profitability from the feed-in tariff is specifically addressed

Development of Improved Passive Configurations of DMFC with Reduced Contact Resistance

Abstract The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) represents today an appropriate solution for powering portable applications and small electronic devices, due to: 1) its compactness, 2) the high power density when compared with batteries and 3) the facility in transporting proper quantities of fuel (generally a liquid mixture of methanol and water). In order to further reduce the DMFCs size, passive configurations without external pumps and auxiliary devices are actively studied. Oxygen is supplied from the surrounding air while methanol-water solution is stored into a built-in tank in contact with the gas diffusion layer (GDL) that is constantly kept wet. Such configurations have a lower current density, roughly around 10÷30 mA/cm2, when compared with active configuration (40÷80 mA/cm2). It is then important to improve the baseline performance (power and efficiency) of such cells by optimizing all system components. Here we aim at reducing the effects of the contact resistance between GDL and current collectors by carrying out a sensitivity analysis on a number of relevant cells parameters such as:. assembly shape, gaskets, current collectors materials and open ratios. Analysis will be carried out at different molar concentrations (1 to 4 M) of the water-methanol solution used as fuel

Invasive pleural malignant mesothelioma with rib destruction and concurrent osteosarcoma in a dog

A 7-year-old Dachshund was clinically examined because of a 10-day history of lameness in the left hind limb. On the basis of radiological and cytological findings, an osteosarcoma of the left acetabular region was suspected. The dog underwent a hemipelvectomy and osteosarcoma was diagnosed by subsequent histopathological examination. An immovable subcutaneous mass was noted on the left chest wall during the physical examination and non-septic neutrophilic inflammation was diagnosed by cytology. Forty days later, the dog showed signs of respiratory distress with an in-diameter increase of the subcutaneous mass up to 4 cm. Thoracic radiography and ultrasonography revealed pleural effusion and a lytic process in the fourth left rib. Furthermore, ultrasound examination revealed a mixed echogenic mobile structure with a diameter of around 2 cm floating within the pleural fluid of the left hemithorax close to the pericardium. The dog underwent surgery for an en bloc resection of the subcutaneous mass together with the fourth rib and the parietal pleura. Moreover, the left altered lung lobe, corresponding to the mobile structure detected by ultrasound, was removed. Based on cytological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examinations, an invasive epithelioid pleural malignant mesothelioma was diagnosed

Invasive pleural malignant mesothelioma with rib destruction and concurrent osteosarcoma in a dog

A 7-year-old Dachshund was clinically examined because of a 10-day history of lameness in the left hind limb. On the basis of radiological and cytological findings, an osteosarcoma of the left acetabular region was suspected. The dog underwent a hemipelvectomy and osteosarcoma was diagnosed by subsequent histopathological examination. An immovable subcutaneous mass was noted on the left chest wall during the physical examination and non-septic neutrophilic inflammation was diagnosed by cytology. Forty days later, the dog showed signs of respiratory distress with an in-diameter increase of the subcutaneous mass up to 4 cm. Thoracic radiography and ultrasonography revealed pleural effusion and a lytic process in the fourth left rib. Furthermore, ultrasound examination revealed a mixed echogenic mobile structure with a diameter of around 2 cm floating within the pleural fluid of the left hemithorax close to the pericardium. The dog underwent surgery for an en bloc resection of the subcutaneous mass together with the fourth rib and the parietal pleura. Moreover, the left altered lung lobe, corresponding to the mobile structure detected by ultrasound, was removed. Based on cytological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examinations, an invasive epithelioid pleural malignant mesothelioma was diagnosed

Valutazioni emodinamiche in 5 cavalli sani trattati con un ACE-inibitore (Ramipril)

The hemodynamic effects of the ACE-inhibitor ramipril were evaluated in five healthy horses. Ramipril, at a dose of 200 μg/kg was given per os for four days in each subject. The heart rate and arterial blood pressure (systolic, diastolic and mean) were monitored one day before and during the four days of treatment in each horse at specific time intervals. Compared to pre-treatment values, significantly reduced arterial blood pressures were evidenced on each day post-treatment starting from day 3. No difference of the heart rate values was found during treatment

HIPEC in the management of metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis: A single-center retrospective analysis

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) associated with hyperthermic intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) represents a potentially curative treatment for metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis (MPC) secondary to colorectal carcinoma (CRC), ovarian cancer (OC), or pseudomixoma peritonei (PMP). However, CRS-HIPEC is still accompanied by a high morbidity. We retrospectively collected data and analysed the outcome of consecutive HIPEC procedures performed in our unit between 2002 and 2014. In the study period 41 patients (Pts) with MPC underwent CRS-HIPEC. Patient age was 57.7 \ub1 10.1 years (range 32\u201377), Female/Male: 34/7. The median follow-up was 22.6 months. The MPC was secondary to OC in 19 Pts (46%), CRC in 14 Pts (34%), and PMP in 8 Pts (20%). Closed HIPEC procedure was performed in the early phase of our experience in 11 Pts (26.8%). Cisplatin (43 mg/m2/l) and Adriamicin (15.25 mg/m2/l) were administered for OC, whereas Cisplatin (25.0 mg/m2/l) and Mitomycin C (3.3 mg/m2/l) for both CRC and PMP. HIPEC was performed for 60 min at 41 \ub0C, and gastrointestinal anastomosis were completed after perfusion. The median operation time was 390 min (95%CI: 366\u2013426). No death occurred in the intraoperative or early postoperative period. The median hospital stay was 15 days (95% CI: 14\u201322). The overall survival at 1, 3 and 5 years were 82%, 53% and 33%, respectively. Although no significant survival difference was observed by stratifying for closed vs. open HIPEC at 1 year (P = 0.0798) and 3 years (P = 0.0867), within these time-points the Kaplan\u2013Meier curves showed a better cumulative survival probability for Pts who underwent the open procedure. In our experience, CRS-HIPEC has revealed to be an effective treatment for MPC from OC, CRC or PMP, with an admissible morbidity and mortality