Carbon trading-based layered operation optimization of the electric–thermal multi-energy-flow coupling system with photothermal power stations

With the increasing development of low-carbon economy, the coupling degree of electric thermal gas system is deepening day by day. The operation mode of traditional energy supply system using electric heating separation mode and hierarchical dispatching of transmission and distribution network has been difficult to mine the whole network resources and realize the global optimal operation strategy. In order to increase the consumption of new energy and solve the multi-energy current coupling system, this paper puts forward a layered optimization operation strategy for the electric-thermal multi-energy current coupling system with Concentrated solar power (CSP) plant and carbon trading mechanism. The upper layer is the solution layer of multi-energy coupled flow system. In order to solve the matrix values of complex multi-energy coupled flow system, Newton's method, improved Newton’s method and improved second-order cone collaborative solution methods are proposed. The lower layer is the multi-energy flow optimization layer. According to the system solution values obtained from the upper layer, the lower layer optimization aims at economic minimization of the total user cost. The carbon trading mechanism model is introduced to optimize the time sequence output of the electric thermal unit under different scenarios, and the mixed integer linear programming method is adopted. Finally, the validity is verified by a simulation example. The results show that this method can optimize the operation of the system, improve the accuracy and rapidity of the system, and “carbon trading and CSP power station” method can better constrain the carbon emission of the multi-energy flow coupling system, reduce the energy pressure of the device, and improve the economy of the total cost of the user.If this method is adopted, it can be used for reference in the future energy management and system decision of multi-energy flow coupling system

Chip-scale solar thermal electrical power generation

There is an urgent need for alternative compact technologies that can derive and store energy from the sun, especially the large amount of solar heat that is not effectively used for power generation. Here, we report a combination of solution- and neat-film-based molecular solar thermal (MOST) systems, where solar energy can be stored as chemical energy and released as heat, with microfabricated thermoelectric generators to produce electricity when solar radiation is not available. The photophysical properties of two MOST couples are characterized both in liquid with a catalytical cycling setup and in a phase-interconvertible neat film. Their suitable photophysical properties let us combine them individually with a microelectromechanical ultrathin thermoelectric chip to use the stored solar energy for electrical power generation. The generator can produce, as a proof of concept, a power output of up to 0.1 nW (power output per unit volume up to 1.3 W m−3). Our results demonstrate that such a molecular thermal power generation system has a high potential to store and transfer solar power into electricity and is thus potentially independent of geographical restrictions.This work was supported by the K. & A. Wallenberg Foundation, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, the Swedish Research Council Formas, the Swedish Energy Agency, the European Research Council (ERC) under grant agreement CoG, PHOTHERM - 101002131, the Catalan Institute of Advanced Studies (ICREA), and the European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme under grant agreement no. 951801. The MEMS-TEG chip manufacture and experimentation were supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant 51776126). The authors would like to thank the Center for Advanced Electronic Materials and Devices (AEMD) and Instrumental Analysis Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and the startup fund of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. We thank Dr. Sarah Lerch and Prof. Ben Greatrex for reading and commenting on the manuscript. We acknowledge Neuroncollective.com and Daniel Spacek for the graphical abstract.With funding from the Spanish government through the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000917-S).Peer reviewe

Ni-based bimetallic heterogeneous catalysts for energy and environmental applications

Bimetallic catalysts have attracted extensive attention for a wide range of applications in energy production and environmental remediation due to their tunable chemical/physical properties. These properties are mainly governed by a number of parameters such as compositions of the bimetallic systems, their preparation method, and their morphostructure. In this regard, numerous efforts have been made to develop “designer” bimetallic catalysts with specific nanostructures and surface properties as a result of recent advances in the area of materials chemistry. The present review highlights a detailed overview of the development of nickel-based bimetallic catalysts for energy and environmental applications. Starting from a materials science perspective in order to obtain controlled morphologies and surface properties, with a focus on the fundamental understanding of these bimetallic systems to make a correlation with their catalytic behaviors, a detailed account is provided on the utilization of these systems in the catalytic reactions related to energy production and environmental remediation. We include the entire library of nickel-based bimetallic catalysts for both chemical and electrochemical processes such as catalytic reforming, dehydrogenation, hydrogenation, electrocatalysis and many other reactions

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Design and Dynamic Characteristics Analysis of Novel Support Adjustment Mechanism of Wheeled Downhole Tractor

Conventional design method of the downhole tractor is based on cementing casing, which is only suitable for the smooth wellbore. For the open hole well, the conventional downhole tractor has poor adaptability and even cannot work normally. In order to improve the obstacle surmounting performance of the wheeled downhole tractor (WDR) and expand the application range of the WDR, a double push rod-double spring support adjustment mechanism (DPRDSSAM) is proposed in this paper. Meanwhile, the proposed DPRDSSAM also needs to increase the traction force and the stability of the WDR in the open hole well. Kinematic simulation numerical models of both conventional support adjustment mechanism and the DPRDSSAM are established. The two models comprehensively considere the influence of different obstacle forms and sizes on the obstacle surmounting performance of the tractor. The influence of different obstacle forms on the obstacle surmounting performance of DPRDSSAM and single push rod support adjustment mechanism (SPRSAM) is analyzed. Results show that the DPRDSSAM has better obstacle surmounting performance than the SPRSAM. The DPRDSSAM can effectively promote further research and application of the tractor in the open hole well

Research on UWB personnel positioning system in coal mine

In order to solve the problem that non-line-of-sight(NLOS) interference affects wireless signal transmission in complex underground environment of coal mines, an ultra wide band(UWB) personnel positioning system in coal mine is designed. The system uses asymmetric double-sided two-way ranging algorithm with return frame mechanism for ranging without clock synchronization, which ensures the ranging precision. The positioning area is divided by the area discrimination strategy and the area correction strategy, so that the tag can only communicate with the base station in the positioning area to achieve positioning, which avoids a large number of invalid frames in the positioning process and improves the positioning efficiency. The weighted least squares method and the unscented Kalman filter joint positioning algorithm are used to solve the tag position coordinates, which improves the positioning precision. A backup power supply is configured in the base station to ensure emergency power supply in case of power failure. Two communication modes, Ethernet and LoRa, are adopted. When the Ethernet is disconnected, the ranging data is transmitted in the LoRa mode, which ensures the emergency communication of the system. The test results show that the system has high dynamic and static positioning precision and strong anti-NLOS interference capability. When the base station is powered off or the Ethernet is disconnected, the system can realize emergency communication for a period of time

Image-Aided Analysis of Ballast Particle Movement Along a High-Speed Railway

As a core infrastructure of high-speed railways, ballast layers constituted by graded crushed stones feature noteworthy particle movement compared with normal railways, which may cause excessive settlement and have detrimental effects on train operation. However, the movement behavior remains ambiguous due to a lack of effective measurement approaches and analytical methods. In this study, an image-aided technique was developed in a full-scale model test using digital cameras and a color-based identification approach. A total of 1274 surface ballast particles were manually dyed by discernible colors to serve as tracers in the test. The movements of the surface ballast particles were tracked using the varied pixels displaying tracers in the photos that were intermittently taken during the test in the perpendicular direction. The movement behavior of ballast particles under different combinations of train speeds and axle loads was quantitatively evaluated. The obtained results indicated that the surface ballast particle movements were slight, mainly concentrated near sleepers under low-speed train loads and greatly amplified and extended to the whole surface when the train speed reached 360 km·h−1. Additionally, the development of ballast particle displacement statistically resembled its rotation. Track vibration contributed to the movements of ballast particles, which specifically were driven by vertical acceleration near the track center and horizontal acceleration at the track edge. Furthermore, the development trends of ballast particle movements and track settlement under long-term train loading were similar, and both stabilized at nearly the same time. The track performance, including the vibration characteristics, accumulated settlement, and sleeper support stiffness, was determined to be closely related to the direction and distribution of ballast particle flow, which partly deteriorated under high-speed train loads

Regulation Mechanism of Plant Pigments Biosynthesis: Anthocyanins, Carotenoids, and Betalains

Anthocyanins, carotenoids, and betalains are known as the three major pigments in the plant kingdom. Anthocyanins are flavonoids derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway. They undergo acylation and glycosylation in the cytoplasm to produce anthocyanin derivatives and deposits in the cytoplasm. Anthocyanin biosynthesis is regulated by the MBW (comprised by R2R3-MYB, basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and WD40) complex. Carotenoids are fat-soluble terpenoids whose synthetic genes also are regulated by the MBW complex. As precursors for the synthesis of hormones and nutrients, carotenoids are not only synthesized in plants, but also synthesized in some fungi and bacteria, and play an important role in photosynthesis. Betalains are special water-soluble pigments that exist only in Caryophyllaceae plants. Compared to anthocyanins and carotenoids, the synthesis and regulation mechanism of betalains is simpler, starting from tyrosine, and is only regulated by MYB (myeloblastosis). Recently, a considerable amount of novel information has been gathered on the regulation of plant pigment biosynthesis, specifically with respect to aspects. In this review, we summarize the knowledge and current gaps in our understanding with a view of highlighting opportunities for the development of pigment-rich plants

Chiral Recognition for Chromatography and Membrane-Based Separations: Recent Developments and Future Prospects

With the rapid development of global industry and increasingly frequent product circulation, the separation and detection of chiral drugs/pesticides are becoming increasingly important. The chiral nature of substances can result in harm to the human body, and the selective endocrine-disrupting effect of drug enantiomers is caused by differential enantiospecific binding to receptors. This review is devoted to the specific recognition and resolution of chiral molecules by chromatography and membrane-based enantioseparation techniques. Chromatographic enantiomer separations with chiral stationary phase (CSP)-based columns and membrane-based enantiomer filtration are detailed. In addition, the unique properties of these chiral resolution methods have been summarized for practical applications in the chemistry, environment, biology, medicine, and food industries. We further discussed the recognition mechanism in analytical enantioseparations and analyzed recent developments and future prospects of chromatographic and membrane-based enantioseparations