IoT Based Solar Powered Smart Waste Management System with Real Time Monitoring- An Advancement for Smart City Planning

In this paper, we proposed an IoT based solar-powered smart waste management system which is suitable for any kind city or town in both developed and developing countries that can ensure proper collection, transportation, and disposal of household and industrial waste with real-time remote monitoring. To maintain the green and clean environment around us, precise collection and disposal of garbage in a regular fashion are necessary. The primary goal of this research work is to provide a complete smart solution for waste collection and disposal hence ensuring a comfortable environment. The proposed system enables real-time remote monitoring of solar-powered several smart bins located in different points in the city which are connected to the control station through long-range (LoRa) communication device and also supervises the waste collector activities like collection and disposal time using Automated Vehicles Locating System (AVLS)

Role of SiOx in rice-husk-derived anodes for Li-ion batteries

The present study investigated the role of SiOx in a rice-husk-derived C/SiOx anode on the rate and cycling performance of a Li-ion battery. C/SiOx active materials with different SiOx contents (45, 24, and 5 mass%) were prepared from rice husk by heat treatment and immersion in NaOH solution. The C and SiOx specific capacities were 375 and 475 mAh g(-1), respectively. A stable anodic operation was achieved by pre-lithiating the C/SiOx anode. Full-cells consisting of this anode and a Li(Ni-0.5,Co-0.2,Mn-0.3) O-2 cathode displayed high initial Coulombic efficiency (similar to 85%) and high discharge specific capacity, indicating the maximum performance of the cathode (similar to 150 mAh g(-1)). At increased current density, the higher the SiOx content, the higher the specific capacity retention, suggesting that the time response of the reversible reaction of SiOx with Li ions is faster than that of the C component. The full-cell with the highest SiOx content exhibited the largest decrease in cell specific capacity during the cycle test. The structural decay caused by the volume expansion of SiOx during Li-ion uptake and release degraded the cycling performance. Based on its high production yield and electrochemical benefits, degree of cycling performance degradation, and disadvantages of its removal, SiOx is preferably retained for Li-ion battery anode applications

Suitable binder for Li‑ion battery anode produced from rice husk

Rice husk (RH) is a globally abundant and sustainable bioresource composed of lignocellulose and　inorganic components, the majority of which consist of silicon oxides (approximately 20% w/w in　dried RH). In this work, a RH-derived C/SiOx composite (RHC) was prepared by carbonization at　1000 °C for use in Li-ion battery anodes. To find a suitable binder for RHC, the RHC-based electrodes　were fabricated using two different contemporary aqueous binders: polyacrylic acid (PAA) and a　combination of carboxymethyl cellulose and styrene butadiene rubber (CMC/SBR). The rate and　cycling performances of the RHC electrodes with respect to the insertion/extraction of Li ions were　evaluated in a half-cell configuration. The cell was shorted for 24 h to completely lithiate the RHC.　Impedance analysis was conducted to identify the source of the increase in the resistance of the　RHC electrodes. The RHC electrode fabricated using PAA exhibited higher specific capacity for Li-ion　extraction during the cycling test. The PAA binder strengthened the electrode and alleviated the　increase in electrode resistance caused by the formation of the interphase film. The high affinity of　PAA for SiOx　in RHC was responsible for the stabilization of the anodic performance of Li-ion batteries

Effects of Excessive Prelithiation on Full-Cell Performance of Li-Ion Batteries with a Hard-Carbon/Nanosized-Si Composite Anode

The effects of excessive prelithiation on the full-cell performance of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) with a hard-carbon/nanosized-Si (HC/N-Si) composite anode were investigated; HC and N-Si simply mixed at mass ratios of 9:1 and 8:2 were analyzed. CR2032-type half- and full-cells were assembled to evaluate the electrochemical LIB anode behavior. The galvanostatic measurements of half-cell configurations revealed that the composite anode with an 8:2 HC/N-Si mass ratio exhibited a high capacity (531 mAh g(-1)) at 0.1 C and superior current-rate dependence (rate performance) at 0.1-10 C. To evaluate the practical LIB anode performance, the optimally performing composite anode was used in the full cell. Prior to full-cell assembly, the composite anodes were prelithiated via electrochemical Li doping at different cutoff anodic specific capacities (200-600 mAh g(-1)). The composite anode was paired with a LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 cathode to construct full-cells, the performance of which was evaluated by conducting sequential rate and cycling performance tests. Prelithiation affected only the cycling performance, without affecting the rate performance. Excellent capacity retention was observed in the full-cells with prelithiation conducted at cutoff anodic specific capacities greater than or equal to 500 mAh g(-1)

Simulation of Electrical and Thermal Properties of Granite under the Application of Electrical Pulses Using Equivalent Circuit Models

Since energy efficiency in comminution of ores is as small as 1% using a mechanical crushing process, it is highly demanded to improve its efficiency. Using electrical impulses to selectively liberate valuable minerals from ores can be a solution of this problem. In this work, we developed a simulation method using equivalent circuits of granite to better understand the crushing process with high-voltage (HV) electrical pulses. From our simulation works, we calculated the electric field distributions in granite when an electrical pulse was applied. We also calculated other associated electrical phenomena such as produced heat and temperature changes from the simulation results. A decrease in the electric field was observed in the plagioclase with high electrical conductivity and void space. This suggests that the void volume in each mineral is important in calculating the electrical properties. Our equivalent circuit models considering both the electrical conductivity and dielectric constant of a granite can more accurately represent the electrical properties of granite under HV electric pulse application. These results will help us better understand the liberation of minerals from granite by electric pulse application

Equivalent Circuit Models: An Effective Tool to Simulate Electric/Dielectric Properties of Ores-An Example Using Granite

The equivalent circuit model is widely used in high-voltage (HV) engineering to simulate the behavior of HV applications for insulation/dielectric materials. In this study, equivalent circuit models were prepared in order to represent the electric and dielectric properties of minerals and voids in a granite rock sample. The HV electric-pulse application shows a good possibility of achieving a high energy efficiency with the size reduction and selective liberation of minerals from rocks. The electric and dielectric properties were first measured, and the mineral compositions were also determined by using a micro-X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Ten patterns of equivalent circuit models were then prepared after considering the mineral distribution in granite. Hard rocks, as well as minerals, are dielectric materials that can be represented as resistors and capacitors in parallel connections. The values of the electric circuit parameters were determined from the known electric and dielectric parameters of the minerals in granite. The average calculated data of the electric properties of granite agreed with the measured data. The conductivity values were 53.5 pS/m (measurement) and 36.2 pS/m (simulation) in this work. Although there were some differences between the measured and calculated data of dielectric loss (tan delta), their trend as a function of frequency agreed. Even though our study specifically dealt with granite, the developed equivalent circuit model can be applied to any other rock