Geometric Visual Instruments Having Pinnate Forms

Abstract A visual instrument is an instrument that generates geometrically and aesthetically appealing temporal-spatial patterns if it is skillfully manipulated by a player. We present new types of geometric visual instruments having pinnate forms that are used by rolling one instrument along the other. We designed and fabricated the proposed visual instruments and confirmed that they can be manipulated skillfully and they provide a way to explore new types of manipulative play and performances

Development of a multi regional, multi sector economy-energy model for the assessments of climate change policy

The purpose of this study is to assess climate change policies with a newly developed model which is capable of dealing with the changes in the energy systems and the industrial structure up to the middle of this century. Most of the assessments based on multi-sector economic models have mainly focused on the near future around 2020 while existing energy system models mainly address the long term up to 2100 and beyond. In addition, most of the economic models have mainly discussed country level while global climate policy models have the world disaggregated into 10-15 regions. In the past studies, intensive discussion was not made on globalization, industrial structure changes etc., which are important in the global environmental context. It is necessary to incorporate the industry structure changes for multi-regions to assess the longer term and global issue of carbon emission reduction potentials. The GTAP (Global Trade Analysis Project) model, which has a comprehensive and consistent world economic database, is a quantitative system that has been widely used for the economic analysis on the international trade and impacts across various sectors. In this study, we integrated the static GTAP model and an energy technology assessment model, extending it to a dynamic model to assess the dynamics of the technologies and economy under climate policy. We formulated the model as an optimization model to evaluate the technology and policy options while the original GTAP model is a general equilibrium model without an objective function. The model described in this study has 18 economic sectors and 8 energy sectors, dividing the world into 18 regions. Carbon emission reduction strategies are evaluated for the multi-regions and multi-sectors up to the mid-century with the new model

Sectoral economic impacts of CO2 mitigation policies under different levels of stabilization targets: A study with the hybrid model DEARS

This study compares the economic impacts of different stabilizing levels of atmospheric CO2 concentration by a new intertemporal energy-economic optimization model, namely, DEARS (Dynamic Energy-economic model with multi-Regions and multi-Sectors. The model has the input-output structures defined by the Leontief production function based on the assumption of the time-series input-output coefficients scenarios with changes in technical structures. In this paper, we focus on how the sectoral economic activities are affected by the carbon mitigation policies up to the middle of this century. Simulation studies focus on atmospheric stabilization of carbon dioxide at levels of 450–650 ppm CO2 only. The impacts of sectoral productions on economic activities in the carbon stabilization cases are dependent on sectoral characteristics; the carbon emission reduction policies have less economic impacts on the sectors with less energy requirements like “service sector”, while they have more critical impacts on the sectors served as investment commodities like “construction sector,” and energy-intensive commodities like “iron and steel sector.” The GDP losses and shadow prices increase within the relatively small ranges in the S650-S500-CO2 only cases while the losses in the S450-CO2 only case increase rapidly and enormously. Innovative technologies in the “transport sector” into energy supply sectors are required in the stabilizations at 450 ppmv-CO2 only before 2030 under the assumption of the relatively rigid substitution of energy demands using the Leontief functions as in the DEARS model

The Examination of Air Blowing Method and Thermal Comfort of Variable Air Conditioning System using Coanda Effect

The “Strategic Energy Plan” implemented by the Cabinet of Japan in 2014 strives for zero energy building design for typical new construction by 2030. The present study focuses on a ductless and variable air conditioning system, using the Coanda effect, with the aim of reducing fan power, and saving of resources by reducing the space between the ceiling. In this study, we examined the air blowing method and evaluated thermal comfort using computational fluid dynamics as well as subjective perception of coolness in a midsize office. A draft zone was reduced by extending the interval between conditioned air outlets. However, if the extension of throw length was excessive, hot space would be formed near the air outlets, and there would be a risk of impacting thermal comfort. Moreover, we confirmed that the thermal comfort was generally favourable. In particular, perceived thermal comfort was better at the position in the office where the air flow landed on the upper body of the subjects. On the other hand, it decreased when the influence of the air flow was small, and at the point where air flow landed on the lower body of the subjects

Evaluation of Global Warming Mitigation Policies with a Dynamic World Energy-economic Model Considering Changes in Industrial Structures by IT Penetration

This study aims to reveal their impacts of changes in the industrial structures and the rapid IT (Information Technology) penetration on economic activities and energy systems under CO2 emission constraints by using a dynamic world energy-economic model, namely, DEARS (Dynamic Energy-economic model with multi-Regions and multi-Sectors). This model deals with 18 divided regions and 18 non-energy sectors by integrating top-down economy and bottom-up energy system modules to assess global warming mitigation policies. The energy module of DEARS comprises seven types of primary energy sources and four types of secondary energy with the consideration of CCS (Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage). Simulation studies, combining the carbon emission policies with the input-output coefficient scenarios, are conducted: the climate policies consist of the non-climate policy case and the two constraint cases meeting the IPCC-S550 or -S450 ppmv stabilizations, and the input-output scenarios consist of the fixed coefficient case and the two variable coefficients cases with consideration of changes in industrial structures and rapid IT (information technology) penetration. The results suggest that the carbon stabilization policies and the evolutions of industrial structures and IT lead not only to changes in energy systems but also the shift to lower carbon and energy intensity, and higher value-added industry. This indicates that the post-heavy industrial structures by the IT penetration will leads to sustainable economic developments