Economic Impact of CDM Implementation through Alternate Energy Resource Substitution

Since the Kyoto protocol agreement, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has garnered large emphasis in terms of certified emission reductions (CER) not only amidst the global carbon market but also in India. This paper attempts to assess the impact of CDM towards sustainable development particularly in rural domestic utility sector that mainly includes lighting and cooking applications, with electricity as the source of energy. A detailed survey has undertaken in the state of Kerala, in southern part of India to study the rural domestic energy consumption pattern. The data collected was analyzed that throws insight into the interrelationships of the various parameters that influence domestic utility sector pertaining to energy consumption by using electricity as the source of energy. The interrelationships between the different parameters were modeled that optimizes the contribution of electricity on domestic utility sector. The results were used to estimate the feasible extent of CO2 emission reduction through use of electricity as the energy resources, vis-à-vis its economic viability through cost effectiveness. The analysis also provides a platform for implementing CDM projects in the sector and related prospects with respects to the Indian scenari

Emerging Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Activities in India

AbstractPresently the installed capacity of electricity generation in India is 160 GWe. The integrated ene rgy policy aims at an installed capacity of 778 GWe by 2031-32 to achieve per capita electricity consumption of 2700 kWh/year as against the 700 kWh/year. The share of nuclear power in India is around 3% presently. The increase in installed capacity is possible by increasing the share of nuclear power. India has opted for a unique three-stage power programme based on closed nuclear fuel cycle, which provides a multiplier effect through breeding. Consequent to the 123 agreement and clearance from Nuclear Supplier‟s Group (NSG) for international cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, the reactor technology options are wide open. Some of the technologies which are being pursued are: Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) fueled with domestic Natural Uranium (NU), PHWRs fueled with imported Natural Uranium/Slightly Enriched Uranium (SEU), Light Water Reactors (LWRs) procured from abroad using imported Lightly Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel, PHWRs with Reprocessed Uranium (RU) obtained from reprocessing spent fuel of LWRs, indigenous Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) and Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) using MOX/metallic fuel. The increase in the share of nuclear power through above technologies require setting up of fuel fabrication facilities such as: new PHWR Fuel Fabrication with indigenous sources, joint collaboration with foreign countries for fabricating fuel for imported LWRs, setting up PHWR fuel fabrication facilities with SEU/RU under international safeguards, setting up of enrichment and fuel fab rication facilities for indigenous PWRs and a series of fast reactor fuel fabrication facilities for fabricating fuel for FBRs. In addition to fuel fabrication facilities, facilities for manufacturing zirconium alloy and stainless steel structurals, tubes and components are also required to be set up. The paper gives in detail the emerging nuclear fuel fabrication activities in India

There’s always the river: social and environmental equity in rapidly urbanising landscapes in India

In the pursuit of sustainable and liveable cities, Indian built environment practitioners and policymakers are understandably focused on aspects of infrastructure, sanitation and health, given the problems of pollution and environmental degradation are significant urban problems. However, there is little demonstration of understanding of the part that landscape could play in tackling such issues. To explore this, the paper examines two urban rivers in India. It calls on interviews with practitioners, residents and users in Madurai and Ahmedabad, focusing on access and use of the river to explore social and environmental equity. The findings suggest that free, public and safe access to the rivers have reduced over time in both cities, for different reasons. Perceived environmental quality of both rivers has also worsened. We suggest that urban river infrastructure should be reconceptualised to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a more holistic approach to understanding Indian riparian urban landscapes

Physical phenomena in containerless glass processing

Experiments were conducted on bubble migration in rotating liquid bodies contained in a sphere. Experiments were initiated on the migration of a drop in a slightly less dense continuous phase contained in a rotating sphere. A refined apparatus for the study of thermocapillar flow in a glass melt was built, and data were acquired on surface velocities in the melt. Similar data also were obtained from an ambient temperature fluid model. The data were analyzed and correlated with the aid of theory. Data were obtained on flow velocities in a pendant drop heated from above. The motion in this system was driven principally by thermocapillarity. An apparatus was designed for the study of volatilization from a glass melt

Evaluation of high temperature polymers

The purpose of this paper is to identify and develop arc-track resistant insulation materials that can operate reliably at 300 C. In the first phase, high performance polymers are evaluated based on structure, thermal stability and electrical properties. Next, the polymers are ranked according to performance and experimental characterization. Then, experimental evaluations in wire configuration are conducted. And selection is made based on performance and commerical potential

Tripe palm: a paraneoplastic manifestation of carcinoma stomach

Usually gastrointestinal malignancies present with low SAAG ascites. But when there is diffuse liver infiltration following malignancy, high SAAG ascites can occur. So liver infiltration can masquerade as cirrhosis. Malignant acanthosis and tripe palm are the paraneoplastic manifestations seen in GI malignancies. We are reporting a case which was initially managed as a  straightforward case of cirrhosis ,but later turned out to be a case with tripe palms, malignant acanthosis and carcinoma stomach as primary with diffuse liver infiltration having high SAAG ascites

Preclinical evaluation of Boswellia serrata for anxiolytic activity

Background: Boswellia serrata (BS)has been described in the ancient Ayurvedic texts Sushruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita. It possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-arthritic and antioxidant properties. It is found that BShelps in surging of GABA levels in mice brain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible anxiolytic activity of BSin Swiss albino mice by light and dark arena (LDA) and elevated plus maze (EPM) models.Methods: In this study, BS(50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg; p.o) was evaluated for anxiolytic action and compared with standard drug (diazepam) and control (normal saline) in mice by LDA and EPM models. In LDA, number of entries and time spent in light and dark boxes were noted for individual mouse. Similarly, number of entries and time spent in open and closed arms were recorded for EPM model.Results: One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett’s post-hoc test was used to analyze the data. BSin a dose of 50 mg/kg has shown significant increase in time spent in light box (p<0.05) and decrease in time spent in dark box (p<0.05) when compared to control group in LDA model. Similarly, in EPM model 200 mg/kg of BS significantly increased time spent in open arm (p<0.001) and decrease in time spent in closed arm (p<0.001) when compared to control group.Conclusion: BS in dose of 50 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg has significant anxiolytic action in animal models

A Meta Model for Domestic Energy Consumption

Prediction of energy consumption particularly in micro level is of vital importance in terms of energy planning and also implementation of any Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) activities that has become the order of the world today. It may be difficult to model household energy consumption using conventional methods such as time series forecasting due to many influencing factors. This paper presents a step wise regression model for forecasting domestic energy consumption based on micro level household survey data collected from Kerala, a state in southern part of India. The analysis of the data reveals significant influence of socio-economic, demographic, geographic, and family attributes upon total household energy requirements. While a wide variation in the pattern of energy requirements across the domestic sector belonging to different expenditure classes, per capita income level can be identified as the most important explanatory variable influencing variation in energy requirements. The models developed also demonstrates the influence of per capita land area, residential area among the higher income group while average age and literacy forms significant variables among the lower income group. Keywords: Meta Model; Consumption Pattern; Domestic Energy Requirement JEL classifications: E2; Q

Modeling the Transport and Retention of Nanoparticles in a Single Partially Saturated Pore in Soil

Pore-network models are powerful tools for studying particle transport in complex porous media, and investigating the role of interfaces in their fate. The first step in simulating particle transport using pore-network models is to quantitatively describe particle transport in a single pore, and obtain relationships between pore-averaged deposition rate coefficients and various pore-scale parameters. So, in this study, a three-dimensional (3D) mathematical model is developed to simulate the transport and retention of nanoparticles within a single partially saturated pore with an angular cross-section. The model accounts for particle deposition at solid-water interfaces (SWIs), air-water interfaces (AWIs), and air-water-solid (AWS) contact regions. We provide a novel formulation for particle diffusive transport from AWI to AWS, where particles are assumed to be retained irreversibly by capillary forces. The model involves 12 dimensionless parameters representing various physicochemical conditions. The 3D model results are averaged over the pore cross-section and then fitted to breakthrough curves from one-dimensional (1D) advection-dispersion-sorption equations with three-site kinetics to estimate 1D-averaged deposition rate coefficients at interfaces. We find that half-corner angle, particle size, radius of curvature of AWI, and mean flow velocity have a significant effect on those coefficients. In contrast, chemical parameters such as ionic strength and surface potentials of particles and interfaces have negligible effects. AWS is found to be the major retention site for particles, especially for hydrophobic particles. We develop algebraic relationships between 1D-averaged deposition rate coefficients at interfaces vis-à-vis various pore-scale parameters. These relationships are needed for pore-network models to upscale nanoparticle transport to continuum scale

CDM as a Solution for the Present World Energy Problems (An Overview with Respect to the Building and Construction Sector)

One of the important responses of Kyoto Protocol towards mitigation of global warming is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which has garnered large emphasis amidst the global carbon market in terms of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs). While CDM aims to achieve sustainable development in the energy production and its consumption in developing countries, the results achieved through its implementation are still uncertain. Presently, the domestic and commercial buildings are responsible for more than one third of the total conventional energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions. The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that, the building sector has the largest potential for significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This paper envisages the important aspects such as, the non-inclusion of construction sector projects in CDM and its reasons, the role of energy efficiency buildings in the energy conservation arena and the new challenges being faced, while implementing the CDM portfolio in building energy sector