Mechanism Analysis and Simulation of Coplanar Multi-Electrode Capacitive Ice Thickness Measuring Sensor

In this paper, we use the coplanar multi-electrode for designing a rod-shaped sensor for measuring the ice thickness. In order to analyze and study mechanism and feasibility of ice thickness measurements using this technique, we use modes of mathematical model derivation and software simulation to study coplanar multi-electrode capacitance sensors. It uses MAXWELL software to simulate the coplanar multi-electrode capacitance sensor under the models which are being approached by three different media, namely ice, air and water. Both mathematical model derivation and simulation results show that the sensor designed with coplanar multi-electrode capacitance can be used to level the automated measurement of sea ice or river ice thickness. The accuracy is ± 1 cm

Discrimination Algorithm and Procedure of Snow Depth and Sea Ice Thickness Determination Using Measurements of the Vertical Ice Temperature Profile by the Ice-Tethered Buoys

Snow depth and sea ice thickness in the Polar Regions are significant indicators of climate change and have been measured over several decades by ice-tethered buoys. However, sea ice temperature profiles measured by ice-tethered buoys are rarely used to infer snow depth and sea ice thickness owing to the lack of automatic discrimination algorithms, restricting the use of the data for sea ice thermodynamics studies. In this study, snow depth and sea ice thickness were retrieved through the measurements of sea ice temperature profiles using discrimination algorithms of the change point and the maximum likelihood detection methods. The data measured by 50 ice-tethered buoys were used to evaluate the accuracy of the results determined by the algorithm. Influences on the seasonal sea ice thermodynamic state, vertical interval of temperature sensors on the buoys, and initial ice thickness on the estimation errors were also evaluated. The performance of the discrimination algorithm for the data from the Arctic and Antarctic regions was also compared. There were no identifiable differences between the estimation errors from the Arctic and Antarctica. Increases in both the interval of the temperature sensors and the initial ice thickness enlarged the error for the estimation of ice thickness. A procedure developed in this study strengthens the potential application of measurements from the ice-tethered buoys only with the measurements of the vertical temperature profile of the layer of snow-covered ice, but not the measurements of ice basal and surface positions using acoustic sounding

Antarctic Shipborne Tourism: Carbon Emission and Mitigation Path

The rapidly increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide lead to a threat of global climate change. As one of the major sources of carbon emissions in the Antarctic region, shipborne tourism in the Antarctic is expanding rapidly. Consequently, the carbon emissions of shipborne tourism in Antarctica are rapidly increasing. However, there is not enough attention being paid to this issue. In this paper, a calculation model was established to calculate the carbon emissions of cruise ships from the 2003/04 season to the 2016/17 season. The evolution of the carbon emissions from Antarctic cruise ships was described. An aggregate energy efficiency index was developed to evaluate the energy efficiency performance of Antarctic vessels. The key drivers were analyzed to find the paths of carbon reduction. The results show that: (1) The emissions per passenger-trip did not show a downward trend. The total carbon emissions increased continuously with the increasing number of tourists. The total carbon emissions in the 2016/17 season was double that in the 2003/04 season. (2) The aggregate energy efficiency index of Antarctic tour vessels has not reached an advanced level yet. It is the main reason for the high value of emissions per passenger-trip. (3) Due to the oversupply of Antarctica tour ships, there is a low rate of occupancy, which accounts for the decline in aggregate energy efficiency from the 2014/15 season to the 2016/17 season. This study suggests that the administrators of Antarctica should strengthen supervision of the tourism market, control the rapid growth in the number of cruise ships, improve the aggregate energy efficiency of cruise ships and form an efficient and green Antarctic tourism management system

Antarctic Shipborne Tourism: Carbon Emission and Mitigation Path

The rapidly increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide lead to a threat of global climate change. As one of the major sources of carbon emissions in the Antarctic region, shipborne tourism in the Antarctic is expanding rapidly. Consequently, the carbon emissions of shipborne tourism in Antarctica are rapidly increasing. However, there is not enough attention being paid to this issue. In this paper, a calculation model was established to calculate the carbon emissions of cruise ships from the 2003/04 season to the 2016/17 season. The evolution of the carbon emissions from Antarctic cruise ships was described. An aggregate energy efficiency index was developed to evaluate the energy efficiency performance of Antarctic vessels. The key drivers were analyzed to find the paths of carbon reduction. The results show that: (1) The emissions per passenger-trip did not show a downward trend. The total carbon emissions increased continuously with the increasing number of tourists. The total carbon emissions in the 2016/17 season was double that in the 2003/04 season. (2) The aggregate energy efficiency index of Antarctic tour vessels has not reached an advanced level yet. It is the main reason for the high value of emissions per passenger-trip. (3) Due to the oversupply of Antarctica tour ships, there is a low rate of occupancy, which accounts for the decline in aggregate energy efficiency from the 2014/15 season to the 2016/17 season. This study suggests that the administrators of Antarctica should strengthen supervision of the tourism market, control the rapid growth in the number of cruise ships, improve the aggregate energy efficiency of cruise ships and form an efficient and green Antarctic tourism management system

Design and Application of a Standalone Hybrid Wind–Solar System for Automatic Observation Systems Used in the Polar Region

Continuous power supply for unmanned and automatic observation systems without suitable energy-storage capabilities in the polar regions is an urgent problem and challenge. However, few power-supply systems can stably operate over the long term in extreme environments, despite excellent performance under normal environments. In this study, a standalone hybrid wind⁻solar system is proposed, based on operation analysis of the observing system in the Arctic Ocean, the polar environments, and renewable-energy distribution in the polar regions. Energy-storage technology suitable for cold regions is introduced to support the standalone hybrid wind⁻solar system. Mathematical models of the power system at low temperature are also proposed. The low-temperature performance and characteristics of lead⁻acid battery are comprehensively elucidated, and a dedicated charging strategy is developed. A hybrid wind⁻solar charging circuit is developed using a solar charging circuit, a wind turbine charging circuit, a driver circuit, a detection circuit, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit, and an auxiliary circuit. The low temperature stability of charging circuit is test from −50 °C to 30 °C. Temperature correction algorithm is designed to improve the efficiency of the power supply system. The power generation energy of the power system was simulated based on the monthly average renewable energy data of Zhongshan Station. A case study was applied to examine the technical feasibility of the power system in Antarctica. The five-month application results indicate that the power system based on renewable energy can maintain stable performance and provide sufficient power for the observing system in low ambient temperatures. Therefore, this power system is an ideal solution to achieve an environmentally friendly and reliable energy supply in the polar regions

A Study of a Standalone Renewable Energy System of the Chinese Zhongshan Station in Antarctica

China has built four stations in Antarctica so far, and Zhongshan Station is the largest station among them. Continuous power supply for manned stations mainly relies on fuel. With the gradual increase in energy demand at the station and cost of fuel traffic from China to Zhongshan station in Antarctica, reducing fuel consumption and increasing green energy utilization are urgent problems. This research considers a standalone renewable energy system. The polar environments and renewable energy distribution of area of Zhongshan station are analyzed. The physical model, operation principle, and mathematical modeling of the proposed power system were designed. Low-temperature performance and state of charge (SOC) estimation method of the lead–acid battery were comprehensively tested and evaluated. A temperature control strategy was adopted to prevent the battery from low-temperature loss of the battery capacity. Energy management strategy of the power system was proposed by designing maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control strategies for wind turbine and PV array. The whole power system is broadly composed of a power generator (wind turbine and PV array), an uploading circuit, a three-phase rectifier bridge, an interleaved Buck circuit, a DC/DC conversion circuit, a switch circuit, a power supply circuit, an amplifier, a driver circuit, a voltage and current monitoring, a load, battery units and a control system. A case study in Antarctica was applied and can examine the technical feasibility of the proposed system. The results of the case study reveal that the scheme of standalone renewable energy system can satisfy the power demands of Zhongshan Station in normal operation

Design and Implementation of a Polar Wind and Solar Hybrid Power Supply Controller

Based on the preliminary study of the distribution of wind and light resources in the Zhongshan Station of Antarctica, and the conclusion that the scenery and resources of the station area are sufficient and complementary, this paper proposes to adapt to the power supply problem of the aeroponic, stereoscopic cultivation device in the Controlled Micro-environment applied to the polar regions. The overall architecture of the power supply system is designed. Based on the STC8A8K64S4A12 single-chip microcomputer, the hardware circuit and software program of the wind and solar hybrid power supply system controller are also designed. Finally, the debugging experiment is carried out

Review of Development Status of Bi2Te3-Based Semiconductor Thermoelectric Power Generation

Semiconductor thermoelectric power generation is a new type of energy-saving and environment-friendly power generation technology, which directly converts heat energy into electrical energy by using the characteristics of semiconductor thermoelectric materials and has broad application prospects. This paper introduces the basic principles of thermoelectric materials and semiconductor thermoelectric power generation. The research status and progress of Bi2Te3-based semiconductor materials and thermoelectric generators in recent years are also introduced, respectively. Then, the paper emphasizes the research status of low temperature difference semiconductor power generation and points out the future development directions

Summer fast ice evolution off Zhongshan Station, Antarctica

Based on the field data acquired in the program of fast ice observation off Zhongshan Station, Prydz Bay, East Antarctica during the austral summer 2005/2006, physical properties evolution of fast ice during the ice ablation season is analyzed in detail. Results show that the annual maximum ice thickness in 2005 occurred in later November, and then ice started to melt, and the ablation duration was 62 days; sea water under the ice became warmer synchronously; corresponding to the warming sea ice temperature, a "relative cold mid-layer" appeared in sea ice; the fast ice marginal line recoiled back to the shore observably, and the recoil distance was 20.9 km from 18 December 2005 through 14 January 2006. In addition, based on the data of sea ice thickness survey along the investigation course of MV Xuelong on December 18 of 2005, the ice thickness distribution paten in the marginal ice zone have been described: sea ice thickness increased, but the diversity of floe ice thickness decreased from open water to fast ice zone distinctly