Recent advances in deep neural networks have shed new light on physics,engineering,and scientific computing.Reconciling the data-centered viewpoint with physical simulation is one of the research hotspots.The physicsi...Recent advances in deep neural networks have shed new light on physics,engineering,and scientific computing.Reconciling the data-centered viewpoint with physical simulation is one of the research hotspots.The physicsinformedneural network(PINN)is currently the most general framework,which is more popular due to theconvenience of constructing NNs and excellent generalization ability.The automatic differentiation(AD)-basedPINN model is suitable for the homogeneous scientific problem;however,it is unclear how AD can enforce fluxcontinuity across boundaries between cells of different properties where spatial heterogeneity is represented bygrid cells with different physical properties.In this work,we propose a criss-cross physics-informed convolutionalneural network(CC-PINN)learning architecture,aiming to learn the solution of parametric PDEs with spatialheterogeneity of physical properties.To achieve the seamless enforcement of flux continuity and integration ofphysicalmeaning into CNN,a predefined 2D convolutional layer is proposed to accurately express transmissibilitybetween adjacent cells.The efficacy of the proposedmethodwas evaluated through predictions of several petroleumreservoir problems with spatial heterogeneity and compared against state-of-the-art(PINN)through numericalanalysis as a benchmark,which demonstrated the superiority of the proposed method over the PINN.展开更多
The unfettered reliance on fossil fuels for centuries has pushed the world to the brink of severe environmental crises. While individual studies on renewable energy generation capacity have been conducted, a comprehen...The unfettered reliance on fossil fuels for centuries has pushed the world to the brink of severe environmental crises. While individual studies on renewable energy generation capacity have been conducted, a comprehensive analysis is lacking. This study aims to address this gap by providing a comparative analysis of three major renewable energy sources—hydro, solar, and wind— and their current global utilization statistics. Additionally, it will examine the efficacy of fossil fuels and their detrimental impact on the environment. Global warming and its associated health consequences on the ecosystem are rapidly escalating. Without a complete decarbonization of our energy systems, environmental deterioration is poised to continue at an alarming rate. Fortunately, a plethora of traditional and renewable energy resources exist that have minimal or no environmental impact and have been available for years. However, these resources remain largely untapped. The full potential of RE resources hinges on the development of sustainable technologies to harness their energy to their fullest capacity. This study delves into the current global and regional RE utilization from 2013 to 2022, based on data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) 2023. The focus is limited to the three primary renewable energy sources with the highest harnessing capacity in recent times. Employing appropriate mathematical analyses, the results reveal exponential growth in renewable energy, with an average annual generating capacity of 2353550.7 MW over the past decade. Hydroelectric power, solar power, and wind, among others, have played a significant role in the global penetration of renewable energy systems. The changing dynamics have propelled these RE resources into the spotlight in recent years, owing to their sustainability and environmental friendliness.展开更多
Community forest management groups (CFMGs) in Bhutan exhibit participatory forest management practices that recognize the importance of community’s collective participation in the management of natural forest resourc...Community forest management groups (CFMGs) in Bhutan exhibit participatory forest management practices that recognize the importance of community’s collective participation in the management of natural forest resources. This approach involves the community in the stewardship of designated forest areas and resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods and realization of forest conservation objectives. The increase of CFMGs in the country has been successful. However, research on the extent of gender-inclusive participation in CFMGs is either insufficient or missing vis-à-vis the allocation of decision-making power. Therefore, this study analyzes the factors influencing gender participation in CFMGs and their integration into decision-making processes. Primary data were collected from 12 study sites spanning 4 regions, complemented by secondary data from the Forest Department. Regression models were used to identify factors significantly influencing CFMG member participation in decision-making. The empirical results of this study reveal that gender is a significant factor influencing participation in CFMG decision-making. The study concludes that there is insufficient participation of women members in decision-making processes. Therefore, consideration of gender should be included in the development phase of the CFMG policy in addition to promoting awareness of inequity between gender and the promotion of leadership roles for women in CFMGs.展开更多
In this study, the goal is to increase the efficiency of a high-pressure hydraulic turbine. The goal is achieved by numerical flow simulation using CFX-TASCflow. This approach reduces costs and time compared to the ex...In this study, the goal is to increase the efficiency of a high-pressure hydraulic turbine. The goal is achieved by numerical flow simulation using CFX-TASCflow. This approach reduces costs and time compared to the experimental approach and allows for improving the turbine productivity and its design. The analysis of energy losses in the flow part of the turbine Fr500, as well as the analysis of the influence of the opening of the guide vanes on changes in energy losses. The results showed that the greatest losses occur in the guide vane 3.02% based on the two-dimensional model and 2.5% based on the 3D model, which significantly affects the efficiency. The analysis was carried out using programs for calculating fluid flow in two-dimensional and three-dimensional formulations. With the help of the study, the main energy problem is solved—increasing efficiency.展开更多
Drought acutely affects economic sectors, natural habitats and communities. Understanding the past spatial and temporal patterns of drought is crucial because it facilitates the forecasting of future drought occurrenc...Drought acutely affects economic sectors, natural habitats and communities. Understanding the past spatial and temporal patterns of drought is crucial because it facilitates the forecasting of future drought occurrences and informs decision-making processes for possible adaptive measures. This is especially important in view of a changing climate. This study employed the World Meteorological Organization(WMO)-recommended standardized precipitation index(SPI) to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns of drought in Zambia from 1960 to 2016. The relationship between the occurrence of consecutive dry days(CDD; consecutive days with less than 1 mm of precipitation) and SPI was also investigated. Horizontal wind vectors at 850 hPa during the core of the rainy season(December–February)were examined to ascertain the patterns of flow during years of extreme and severe drought; and these were contrasted with the patterns of flow in 2007, which was a generally wet year. Pressure vertical velocity was also investigated. Based on the gamma distribution, SPI successfully categorized extremely dry(with a SPI value less than or equal to –2.0) years over Zambia as 1992 and 2015, a severely dry(–1.9 to –1.5) year as 1995, moderately dry(–1.4 to –1.0) years as 1972, 1980, 1987, 1999 and 2005, and 26 near normal years(–0.9 to 0.9). The occurrence of CDD was found to be strongly negatively correlated with SPI with a coefficient of –0.6. Further results suggest that, during wet years, Zambia is influenced by a clockwise circulating low-pressure zone over the south-eastern Angola, a second such zone over the northern and eastern parts, and a third over the Indian Ocean. In stark contrast, years of drought were characterized by an anti-clockwise circulating high-pressure zone over the south-western parts of Zambia,constraining precipitation activities over the country. Further, wet years were characterized by negative pressure vertical velocity anomalies, signifying ascending motion; while drought years were dominated by positive anomalies, signifying descending motion, which suppresses precipitation. These patterns can be used to forecast drought over Zambia and aid in strategic planning to limit the potential damage of drought.展开更多
In the present study,the flow over the stepped spillway was numerically investigated by using Flow3D model.The effect of step angle on different properties of Nappe flow regime such as the water surface profile,locati...In the present study,the flow over the stepped spillway was numerically investigated by using Flow3D model.The effect of step angle on different properties of Nappe flow regime such as the water surface profile,location of free-surface aeration inception,Froude number at the spillway’s toe,and pressure,flow velocity,air concentration and cavitation index were evaluated.The realizable k–εwas applied as the turbulence model,and Volume of Fluid(VOF)model was used to determine the free surface flow profiles of the spillway.The model was verified using experimental data.In order to investigate the different characteristics of Nappe flow regime,17 numerical runs was designed,in which,four step angles,four flow discharge were considered to investigate the flow characteristics over the stepped spillway.The results indicated that the numerical model is well suited with the experimental data over the stepped spillway(RMSE=0.147 and ARE=6.9%).In addition,with increasing the step angles,the aeration inception point is generally moved downstream.By increasing the step angles from zero to 10 degrees,the Froude number does not change significantly,however,at the angle of 15 degrees,the Froude number decreases by about 42 percent.展开更多
A new method of NAA for sediment movement study is presented in this paper. Through analyzing the natural sediment, the information about natural tracing agents has been obtained, which can show the direction of sedim...A new method of NAA for sediment movement study is presented in this paper. Through analyzing the natural sediment, the information about natural tracing agents has been obtained, which can show the direction of sediment movement and relative discharge of sediment transportation. Test results in some areas, such as Shantou Harbour and Hangzhou Bay, are in good agreement with those from normal hydrologic measurements and some results are not obtainable with the latter. The NAA is economical, practical and reliable, and should be widely used in engineering practice.展开更多
There have been several developments in determining the spontaneous combustion liability of coal. Most of the methods of concern have purely been based on the internal properties of the coal itself. The relation betwe...There have been several developments in determining the spontaneous combustion liability of coal. Most of the methods of concern have purely been based on the internal properties of the coal itself. The relation between the crossing-point method and the electrical resistance of coal was examined here to outline the spontaneous combustion tendency of coal. The electrical resistance property of coal was looked into as a decision-making parameter of the interaction matrix concept for the final decision on the spontaneous combustion tendency.展开更多
Groundwater contamination has been on the rise in Afghanistan.It has become a major concern among the policy makers.This paper aims to propose practical options for the management of nitrate contamination in one of Af...Groundwater contamination has been on the rise in Afghanistan.It has become a major concern among the policy makers.This paper aims to propose practical options for the management of nitrate contamination in one of Afghanistan’s groundwater polluted provinces,Kabul.The management framework utilized Mann-Kendall and Sen Slope tests to detect nitrate trend and geostatistical analysis option in Arc GIS 10.5 to assess the nitrate change.To explore the impact of various management options,a number of legislative documents were reviewed.The results indicate a decline in the nitrate storage of Kabul aquifers from 108 mg/L in 2005 to 0.044 mg/L in 2010.Considering the whole period of the study,the results show that the nitrate volumes remain lower than the nitrate concentration range proposed by World Health Organization(50 mg/L).Groundwater dynamics in Kabul aquifers were influenced by nitrate derived from precipitation and nitrate input from root zones in agricultural areas.Finally,different management options for groundwater pollution from nitrate and corresponding authorities,incorporated urban,rural and agriculture,were proposed.It is expected that this study will help policy makers to better manage the nitrate storage of Kabul aquifers by implementing the proposed management options.展开更多
Deactivation of solid catalyst often occurs in biodiesel production. In this work, deactivated modified red mud catalysts used in biodiesel production were regenerated with hexane and calcination treatments. The deact...Deactivation of solid catalyst often occurs in biodiesel production. In this work, deactivated modified red mud catalysts used in biodiesel production were regenerated with hexane and calcination treatments. The deactivated and regenerated catalysts were characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, TG, N2 adsorption, measured for their basic strength, and tested in the transesterification of canola oil. The results revealed that the main cause of the catalyst deactivation is due to obstruction of the active sites by contaminants. The regeneration by washing with hexane followed by calcination can effectively improve the properties of the deactivated catalyst and increase its catalytic activity.展开更多
A workflow that helps identify potential production sweet spots in the Middle Bakken tight oil play is proposed based on analysis of large amounts of production data. The proposed approach is a multivariate statistica...A workflow that helps identify potential production sweet spots in the Middle Bakken tight oil play is proposed based on analysis of large amounts of production data. The proposed approach is a multivariate statistical model that extracts relevant information from a training dataset of production wells to facilitate geological similarity comparison between economic and sub-economic production wells. The model is applied to the Middle Bakken tight oil play in southeastern Saskatchewan. Data screening for diagnostic geological indicators for sweet spots reveals that several geological factors indicative for conventional oil reservoirs seem to work for the Middle Bakken tight oil play as well. These factors include: a) the NE Torqunay-Rocanville Trend serving as a preferred regional migration path for connecting mature source rock in southern Williston Basin and the Middle Bakken tight reservoir in southeastern Saskatchewan; b) the oils in the Bakken tight reservoirs along the U.S. and Canada border are more likely from local matured Bakken source rocks; c) subtle structural components enhancing the convergence of dispersed hydrocarbons over a large area; d) top seal and lateral barrier improving preservation, thus favouring oil productivity; e) orientation of maximum horizontal stress coincident with the direction of the variogram spatial continuity in ultimate recoverable reserves, so the direction of horizontal well has a significant impact on the oil productivity.展开更多
Aim: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in researching and developing new antimicrobial agents from various sources to combat microbial resistance. The study was aimed at determining the phytochemical ...Aim: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in researching and developing new antimicrobial agents from various sources to combat microbial resistance. The study was aimed at determining the phytochemical constituents and in vitro antibacterial activity of methanol and aqueous extracts of Psidium guajava leaves and stem bark on Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus sp. in Ugbokolo, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The phytochemical screening of the plant materials for various bioactive components was conducted between July and December, 2019 using standard laboratory techniques. The extracts were purified using column chromatography. The identity of the test isolates were confirmed using morphological characteristics, gram stain, motility and appropriate biochemical tests such as indole, catalase, coagulase, triple sugar iron agar. The susceptibility of the isolates to each bioactive component was determined using the agar well diffusion method. The broth dilution method was employed for the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts. Results: The result of the study showed the presence of phenol, tannins, flavonoids and saponins as bioactive compounds. The antibacterial susceptibility of the isolates to aqueous and methanol extracts of leaf and stem bark of Psidium guajava varied significantly (P Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible isolate at 200 mg/ml concentration with average zone of inhibition of 13.05 mm for leaf extract and 15.34 mm for stem bark extract. Proteus sp. is the least susceptible with average zone of inhibition of 8.88 mm for the leaf extract and 12.36 mm for the stem bark extract respectively. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration of aqueous and methanol extract of P. guajava leaf and stem bark showed that dilutions of various concentrations of aqueous and methanol extracts can inhibit and/or kill the isolates. Lower MIC (3.125 mg/ml) was shown by methanol extract than aqueous extract. MBC of methanol extract ranges between 6.25 - 25.0 mg/ml. Statistical analysis of the result showed methanol extract is more effective than aqueous extract while the stem bark of the plant showed higher efficacy than the leaf. Conclusion: The findings of the study imply that the extract of Psidium guajava has shown promising properties against tested microorganisms. Further study of the extract is therefore recommended.展开更多
The expected water mixing process between Red/Dead Sea water during the proposed conveyance projects is the main target of this research. The project will ensue transporting Red Sea water to recover and maintain certa...The expected water mixing process between Red/Dead Sea water during the proposed conveyance projects is the main target of this research. The project will ensue transporting Red Sea water to recover and maintain certain level of the Dead Sea, mostly will reach <span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:-apple-system, " font-size:16px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"="">-</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:;" "="">395</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "="">m. It is found that, the two different water bodies with different EC values or different densities (salinities) are relatively divided by stable plane. This plane is defined as the BARZACH PLANE. In this study, the mixing process occurred between the Red Sea with the Dead Sea waters, located at 20</span><span style="font-family:;" "="">% </span><span style="font-family:;" "="">-</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "="">24% of the Dead Sea column depth based on the Barzach Plane level. During a laboratory experimental work, it is found that the mixed Red/Dead Sea water evaporates in a high rate until certain level where the solution attains oversaturated conditions with different dissolved solids. At this stage, a thin layer of solids suddenly formed and floated at the surface of the dense brine. The salinity of the captured water is so dense that floated salt layer cannot be dissolved. In addition, the formed floated salt layer at the surface prevents the below captured water to evaporate and at this stage, stalactites start to form until the excess dissolved solids are not oversaturated with any mineral.</span>展开更多
Since Turkey’s economy and population is rapidly growing, Turkey mostly meets its energy demand from imported fossil sources due to the very limited indigenous oil and natural gas resources. However, Turkey has abund...Since Turkey’s economy and population is rapidly growing, Turkey mostly meets its energy demand from imported fossil sources due to the very limited indigenous oil and natural gas resources. However, Turkey has abundant renewable resources especially, hydro power potential to be used for generation of electricity. But only one-third of this significant economical potential could be used. This usage seems insufficient when compared with that of European countries. In order to analyze the potential long term impacts of the hydro power expanding shock on some macroeconomic variables of interest such as GDP, real consumption, real investment, exports, imports, trade balance, and carbon emissions, we developed TurGEM-D, a dynamic multisectoral general equilibrium model of the Turkish economy. Using TurGEM-D, we analyzed the impact of hydro power shock under policy scenario doubling hydro power generation. The simulation results show that doubling hydro power have slightly positive effects on macro indicators and carbon emissions for Turkish economy.展开更多
Jordanian granitic rocks (JG) are highly distributed and available in huge quantities in south Jordan, Aqaba area. Granite in south Jordan (JG) is belonging to Aqaba granite complex. This study has been carried out to...Jordanian granitic rocks (JG) are highly distributed and available in huge quantities in south Jordan, Aqaba area. Granite in south Jordan (JG) is belonging to Aqaba granite complex. This study has been carried out to investigate geological and engineering properties of JG from Aqaba vicinity, south Jordan, in addition to identify and classify the different granitic rocks. 27 random samples of JG were collected from different quarries in three locations from the study area to investigate their characterization. Engineering properties of JG were tested and investigated using ultra sonic velocity test, abrasion test, flexural strength, specific gravity test, and compressive strength test. Engineering tests results show that JG has metal disk abrasion less than 21 mm, flexural strength of 16.9 Mpa, average dry specific gravity of 2.69 and very low absorption while the compressive strength results range between 60 to 90 Mpa. The results show that the engineering characterization of JG is complying with local and international specifications and standards used for classifying the decorative and building granite stones.展开更多
Underground coal mining is one of the most dangerous occupations throughout the world.The reasons behind an underground occupational accident are too complex to analyze mainly due to many uncertainties which may arise...Underground coal mining is one of the most dangerous occupations throughout the world.The reasons behind an underground occupational accident are too complex to analyze mainly due to many uncertainties which may arise from geological,operational conditions of the mine or individual characteristics of employees.This study proposes implementing a quantitative methodology for the analysis and assessment of hazards associated with occupational accidents.The application of the proposed approach is performed on the mines of Turkish Hard Coal Enterprises(TTK).The accidents in TTK between the years 2000 and 2014 are firstly statistically analyzed with respect to the number,type and location of accidents,age,experience,education level and main duty of the casualties and also injuries resulting from such accidents.The hazards are classified as individual,operational and locational hazards and quantified using contingency tables,conditional and total probability theorems.Lower and upper boundaries of hazards are determined and event trees for each hazard class are prepared.Total hazard evaluation results show that Armutcuk,Karadon and Uzulmez mines have relatively high hazard levels while Amasra and Kozlu mines have relatively lower hazard values.展开更多
This paper assesses the various factors contributing to climate change in the region of the Kashafroud G-WADI Basin in Iran; quantifies the local impacts of climate change, especially local water scarcity; and simulat...This paper assesses the various factors contributing to climate change in the region of the Kashafroud G-WADI Basin in Iran; quantifies the local impacts of climate change, especially local water scarcity; and simulates and discusses several proposed methods to combat these impacts. Hydrologic and climatic data are statistically analyzed and VENSIM modeling is used for various simulations of water resources in the basin. Results show that the natural climate changes affecting Kashafroud Basin include increased temperature, less rainfall, more frequent droughts, and changes in rainfall patterns, all of which are local symptoms of climate change in recent years. However, the most important challenge in the basin is the overexploitation of surface and groundwater resources to meet the growing water demands, especially domestic needs. Changes in land use, reallocation of water uses, groundwater depletion, and degradation of the quality of surface waters have all contributed to significant changes in the environmental features of this basin, and are the main reason why water demands now exceed the renewal capacity of the basin. Proposed response measures include reallocation of resources among different uses, inter-basin water transfers, drawing water from six small dams on the Kashafroud River, reducing groundwater extraction, and replacing groundwater extraction for agriculture by reuse of urban wastewater. This study concludes that although changes in global climatic parameters have altered environmental features in the basin, local factors, such as water utilization beyond the renewable capacity of the basin, are more significant in worsening the impacts of climate change.展开更多
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52274048)Beijing Natural Science Foundation(No.3222037)+1 种基金the CNPC 14th Five-Year Perspective Fundamental Research Project(No.2021DJ2104)the Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum,Beijing(No.2462021YXZZ010).
文摘Recent advances in deep neural networks have shed new light on physics,engineering,and scientific computing.Reconciling the data-centered viewpoint with physical simulation is one of the research hotspots.The physicsinformedneural network(PINN)is currently the most general framework,which is more popular due to theconvenience of constructing NNs and excellent generalization ability.The automatic differentiation(AD)-basedPINN model is suitable for the homogeneous scientific problem;however,it is unclear how AD can enforce fluxcontinuity across boundaries between cells of different properties where spatial heterogeneity is represented bygrid cells with different physical properties.In this work,we propose a criss-cross physics-informed convolutionalneural network(CC-PINN)learning architecture,aiming to learn the solution of parametric PDEs with spatialheterogeneity of physical properties.To achieve the seamless enforcement of flux continuity and integration ofphysicalmeaning into CNN,a predefined 2D convolutional layer is proposed to accurately express transmissibilitybetween adjacent cells.The efficacy of the proposedmethodwas evaluated through predictions of several petroleumreservoir problems with spatial heterogeneity and compared against state-of-the-art(PINN)through numericalanalysis as a benchmark,which demonstrated the superiority of the proposed method over the PINN.
文摘The unfettered reliance on fossil fuels for centuries has pushed the world to the brink of severe environmental crises. While individual studies on renewable energy generation capacity have been conducted, a comprehensive analysis is lacking. This study aims to address this gap by providing a comparative analysis of three major renewable energy sources—hydro, solar, and wind— and their current global utilization statistics. Additionally, it will examine the efficacy of fossil fuels and their detrimental impact on the environment. Global warming and its associated health consequences on the ecosystem are rapidly escalating. Without a complete decarbonization of our energy systems, environmental deterioration is poised to continue at an alarming rate. Fortunately, a plethora of traditional and renewable energy resources exist that have minimal or no environmental impact and have been available for years. However, these resources remain largely untapped. The full potential of RE resources hinges on the development of sustainable technologies to harness their energy to their fullest capacity. This study delves into the current global and regional RE utilization from 2013 to 2022, based on data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) 2023. The focus is limited to the three primary renewable energy sources with the highest harnessing capacity in recent times. Employing appropriate mathematical analyses, the results reveal exponential growth in renewable energy, with an average annual generating capacity of 2353550.7 MW over the past decade. Hydroelectric power, solar power, and wind, among others, have played a significant role in the global penetration of renewable energy systems. The changing dynamics have propelled these RE resources into the spotlight in recent years, owing to their sustainability and environmental friendliness.
文摘Community forest management groups (CFMGs) in Bhutan exhibit participatory forest management practices that recognize the importance of community’s collective participation in the management of natural forest resources. This approach involves the community in the stewardship of designated forest areas and resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods and realization of forest conservation objectives. The increase of CFMGs in the country has been successful. However, research on the extent of gender-inclusive participation in CFMGs is either insufficient or missing vis-à-vis the allocation of decision-making power. Therefore, this study analyzes the factors influencing gender participation in CFMGs and their integration into decision-making processes. Primary data were collected from 12 study sites spanning 4 regions, complemented by secondary data from the Forest Department. Regression models were used to identify factors significantly influencing CFMG member participation in decision-making. The empirical results of this study reveal that gender is a significant factor influencing participation in CFMG decision-making. The study concludes that there is insufficient participation of women members in decision-making processes. Therefore, consideration of gender should be included in the development phase of the CFMG policy in addition to promoting awareness of inequity between gender and the promotion of leadership roles for women in CFMGs.
文摘In this study, the goal is to increase the efficiency of a high-pressure hydraulic turbine. The goal is achieved by numerical flow simulation using CFX-TASCflow. This approach reduces costs and time compared to the experimental approach and allows for improving the turbine productivity and its design. The analysis of energy losses in the flow part of the turbine Fr500, as well as the analysis of the influence of the opening of the guide vanes on changes in energy losses. The results showed that the greatest losses occur in the guide vane 3.02% based on the two-dimensional model and 2.5% based on the 3D model, which significantly affects the efficiency. The analysis was carried out using programs for calculating fluid flow in two-dimensional and three-dimensional formulations. With the help of the study, the main energy problem is solved—increasing efficiency.
基金on a PhD scholarship sponsored by the University of Edinburgh
文摘Drought acutely affects economic sectors, natural habitats and communities. Understanding the past spatial and temporal patterns of drought is crucial because it facilitates the forecasting of future drought occurrences and informs decision-making processes for possible adaptive measures. This is especially important in view of a changing climate. This study employed the World Meteorological Organization(WMO)-recommended standardized precipitation index(SPI) to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns of drought in Zambia from 1960 to 2016. The relationship between the occurrence of consecutive dry days(CDD; consecutive days with less than 1 mm of precipitation) and SPI was also investigated. Horizontal wind vectors at 850 hPa during the core of the rainy season(December–February)were examined to ascertain the patterns of flow during years of extreme and severe drought; and these were contrasted with the patterns of flow in 2007, which was a generally wet year. Pressure vertical velocity was also investigated. Based on the gamma distribution, SPI successfully categorized extremely dry(with a SPI value less than or equal to –2.0) years over Zambia as 1992 and 2015, a severely dry(–1.9 to –1.5) year as 1995, moderately dry(–1.4 to –1.0) years as 1972, 1980, 1987, 1999 and 2005, and 26 near normal years(–0.9 to 0.9). The occurrence of CDD was found to be strongly negatively correlated with SPI with a coefficient of –0.6. Further results suggest that, during wet years, Zambia is influenced by a clockwise circulating low-pressure zone over the south-eastern Angola, a second such zone over the northern and eastern parts, and a third over the Indian Ocean. In stark contrast, years of drought were characterized by an anti-clockwise circulating high-pressure zone over the south-western parts of Zambia,constraining precipitation activities over the country. Further, wet years were characterized by negative pressure vertical velocity anomalies, signifying ascending motion; while drought years were dominated by positive anomalies, signifying descending motion, which suppresses precipitation. These patterns can be used to forecast drought over Zambia and aid in strategic planning to limit the potential damage of drought.
文摘In the present study,the flow over the stepped spillway was numerically investigated by using Flow3D model.The effect of step angle on different properties of Nappe flow regime such as the water surface profile,location of free-surface aeration inception,Froude number at the spillway’s toe,and pressure,flow velocity,air concentration and cavitation index were evaluated.The realizable k–εwas applied as the turbulence model,and Volume of Fluid(VOF)model was used to determine the free surface flow profiles of the spillway.The model was verified using experimental data.In order to investigate the different characteristics of Nappe flow regime,17 numerical runs was designed,in which,four step angles,four flow discharge were considered to investigate the flow characteristics over the stepped spillway.The results indicated that the numerical model is well suited with the experimental data over the stepped spillway(RMSE=0.147 and ARE=6.9%).In addition,with increasing the step angles,the aeration inception point is generally moved downstream.By increasing the step angles from zero to 10 degrees,the Froude number does not change significantly,however,at the angle of 15 degrees,the Froude number decreases by about 42 percent.
文摘A new method of NAA for sediment movement study is presented in this paper. Through analyzing the natural sediment, the information about natural tracing agents has been obtained, which can show the direction of sediment movement and relative discharge of sediment transportation. Test results in some areas, such as Shantou Harbour and Hangzhou Bay, are in good agreement with those from normal hydrologic measurements and some results are not obtainable with the latter. The NAA is economical, practical and reliable, and should be widely used in engineering practice.
文摘There have been several developments in determining the spontaneous combustion liability of coal. Most of the methods of concern have purely been based on the internal properties of the coal itself. The relation between the crossing-point method and the electrical resistance of coal was examined here to outline the spontaneous combustion tendency of coal. The electrical resistance property of coal was looked into as a decision-making parameter of the interaction matrix concept for the final decision on the spontaneous combustion tendency.
文摘Groundwater contamination has been on the rise in Afghanistan.It has become a major concern among the policy makers.This paper aims to propose practical options for the management of nitrate contamination in one of Afghanistan’s groundwater polluted provinces,Kabul.The management framework utilized Mann-Kendall and Sen Slope tests to detect nitrate trend and geostatistical analysis option in Arc GIS 10.5 to assess the nitrate change.To explore the impact of various management options,a number of legislative documents were reviewed.The results indicate a decline in the nitrate storage of Kabul aquifers from 108 mg/L in 2005 to 0.044 mg/L in 2010.Considering the whole period of the study,the results show that the nitrate volumes remain lower than the nitrate concentration range proposed by World Health Organization(50 mg/L).Groundwater dynamics in Kabul aquifers were influenced by nitrate derived from precipitation and nitrate input from root zones in agricultural areas.Finally,different management options for groundwater pollution from nitrate and corresponding authorities,incorporated urban,rural and agriculture,were proposed.It is expected that this study will help policy makers to better manage the nitrate storage of Kabul aquifers by implementing the proposed management options.
文摘Deactivation of solid catalyst often occurs in biodiesel production. In this work, deactivated modified red mud catalysts used in biodiesel production were regenerated with hexane and calcination treatments. The deactivated and regenerated catalysts were characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, TG, N2 adsorption, measured for their basic strength, and tested in the transesterification of canola oil. The results revealed that the main cause of the catalyst deactivation is due to obstruction of the active sites by contaminants. The regeneration by washing with hexane followed by calcination can effectively improve the properties of the deactivated catalyst and increase its catalytic activity.
基金The Program of Energy Research and Development (PERD) funded this study
文摘A workflow that helps identify potential production sweet spots in the Middle Bakken tight oil play is proposed based on analysis of large amounts of production data. The proposed approach is a multivariate statistical model that extracts relevant information from a training dataset of production wells to facilitate geological similarity comparison between economic and sub-economic production wells. The model is applied to the Middle Bakken tight oil play in southeastern Saskatchewan. Data screening for diagnostic geological indicators for sweet spots reveals that several geological factors indicative for conventional oil reservoirs seem to work for the Middle Bakken tight oil play as well. These factors include: a) the NE Torqunay-Rocanville Trend serving as a preferred regional migration path for connecting mature source rock in southern Williston Basin and the Middle Bakken tight reservoir in southeastern Saskatchewan; b) the oils in the Bakken tight reservoirs along the U.S. and Canada border are more likely from local matured Bakken source rocks; c) subtle structural components enhancing the convergence of dispersed hydrocarbons over a large area; d) top seal and lateral barrier improving preservation, thus favouring oil productivity; e) orientation of maximum horizontal stress coincident with the direction of the variogram spatial continuity in ultimate recoverable reserves, so the direction of horizontal well has a significant impact on the oil productivity.
文摘Aim: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in researching and developing new antimicrobial agents from various sources to combat microbial resistance. The study was aimed at determining the phytochemical constituents and in vitro antibacterial activity of methanol and aqueous extracts of Psidium guajava leaves and stem bark on Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus sp. in Ugbokolo, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The phytochemical screening of the plant materials for various bioactive components was conducted between July and December, 2019 using standard laboratory techniques. The extracts were purified using column chromatography. The identity of the test isolates were confirmed using morphological characteristics, gram stain, motility and appropriate biochemical tests such as indole, catalase, coagulase, triple sugar iron agar. The susceptibility of the isolates to each bioactive component was determined using the agar well diffusion method. The broth dilution method was employed for the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts. Results: The result of the study showed the presence of phenol, tannins, flavonoids and saponins as bioactive compounds. The antibacterial susceptibility of the isolates to aqueous and methanol extracts of leaf and stem bark of Psidium guajava varied significantly (P Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible isolate at 200 mg/ml concentration with average zone of inhibition of 13.05 mm for leaf extract and 15.34 mm for stem bark extract. Proteus sp. is the least susceptible with average zone of inhibition of 8.88 mm for the leaf extract and 12.36 mm for the stem bark extract respectively. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration of aqueous and methanol extract of P. guajava leaf and stem bark showed that dilutions of various concentrations of aqueous and methanol extracts can inhibit and/or kill the isolates. Lower MIC (3.125 mg/ml) was shown by methanol extract than aqueous extract. MBC of methanol extract ranges between 6.25 - 25.0 mg/ml. Statistical analysis of the result showed methanol extract is more effective than aqueous extract while the stem bark of the plant showed higher efficacy than the leaf. Conclusion: The findings of the study imply that the extract of Psidium guajava has shown promising properties against tested microorganisms. Further study of the extract is therefore recommended.
文摘The expected water mixing process between Red/Dead Sea water during the proposed conveyance projects is the main target of this research. The project will ensue transporting Red Sea water to recover and maintain certain level of the Dead Sea, mostly will reach <span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:-apple-system, " font-size:16px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"="">-</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:;" "="">395</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "="">m. It is found that, the two different water bodies with different EC values or different densities (salinities) are relatively divided by stable plane. This plane is defined as the BARZACH PLANE. In this study, the mixing process occurred between the Red Sea with the Dead Sea waters, located at 20</span><span style="font-family:;" "="">% </span><span style="font-family:;" "="">-</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "="">24% of the Dead Sea column depth based on the Barzach Plane level. During a laboratory experimental work, it is found that the mixed Red/Dead Sea water evaporates in a high rate until certain level where the solution attains oversaturated conditions with different dissolved solids. At this stage, a thin layer of solids suddenly formed and floated at the surface of the dense brine. The salinity of the captured water is so dense that floated salt layer cannot be dissolved. In addition, the formed floated salt layer at the surface prevents the below captured water to evaporate and at this stage, stalactites start to form until the excess dissolved solids are not oversaturated with any mineral.</span>
文摘Since Turkey’s economy and population is rapidly growing, Turkey mostly meets its energy demand from imported fossil sources due to the very limited indigenous oil and natural gas resources. However, Turkey has abundant renewable resources especially, hydro power potential to be used for generation of electricity. But only one-third of this significant economical potential could be used. This usage seems insufficient when compared with that of European countries. In order to analyze the potential long term impacts of the hydro power expanding shock on some macroeconomic variables of interest such as GDP, real consumption, real investment, exports, imports, trade balance, and carbon emissions, we developed TurGEM-D, a dynamic multisectoral general equilibrium model of the Turkish economy. Using TurGEM-D, we analyzed the impact of hydro power shock under policy scenario doubling hydro power generation. The simulation results show that doubling hydro power have slightly positive effects on macro indicators and carbon emissions for Turkish economy.
文摘Jordanian granitic rocks (JG) are highly distributed and available in huge quantities in south Jordan, Aqaba area. Granite in south Jordan (JG) is belonging to Aqaba granite complex. This study has been carried out to investigate geological and engineering properties of JG from Aqaba vicinity, south Jordan, in addition to identify and classify the different granitic rocks. 27 random samples of JG were collected from different quarries in three locations from the study area to investigate their characterization. Engineering properties of JG were tested and investigated using ultra sonic velocity test, abrasion test, flexural strength, specific gravity test, and compressive strength test. Engineering tests results show that JG has metal disk abrasion less than 21 mm, flexural strength of 16.9 Mpa, average dry specific gravity of 2.69 and very low absorption while the compressive strength results range between 60 to 90 Mpa. The results show that the engineering characterization of JG is complying with local and international specifications and standards used for classifying the decorative and building granite stones.
文摘Underground coal mining is one of the most dangerous occupations throughout the world.The reasons behind an underground occupational accident are too complex to analyze mainly due to many uncertainties which may arise from geological,operational conditions of the mine or individual characteristics of employees.This study proposes implementing a quantitative methodology for the analysis and assessment of hazards associated with occupational accidents.The application of the proposed approach is performed on the mines of Turkish Hard Coal Enterprises(TTK).The accidents in TTK between the years 2000 and 2014 are firstly statistically analyzed with respect to the number,type and location of accidents,age,experience,education level and main duty of the casualties and also injuries resulting from such accidents.The hazards are classified as individual,operational and locational hazards and quantified using contingency tables,conditional and total probability theorems.Lower and upper boundaries of hazards are determined and event trees for each hazard class are prepared.Total hazard evaluation results show that Armutcuk,Karadon and Uzulmez mines have relatively high hazard levels while Amasra and Kozlu mines have relatively lower hazard values.
文摘This paper assesses the various factors contributing to climate change in the region of the Kashafroud G-WADI Basin in Iran; quantifies the local impacts of climate change, especially local water scarcity; and simulates and discusses several proposed methods to combat these impacts. Hydrologic and climatic data are statistically analyzed and VENSIM modeling is used for various simulations of water resources in the basin. Results show that the natural climate changes affecting Kashafroud Basin include increased temperature, less rainfall, more frequent droughts, and changes in rainfall patterns, all of which are local symptoms of climate change in recent years. However, the most important challenge in the basin is the overexploitation of surface and groundwater resources to meet the growing water demands, especially domestic needs. Changes in land use, reallocation of water uses, groundwater depletion, and degradation of the quality of surface waters have all contributed to significant changes in the environmental features of this basin, and are the main reason why water demands now exceed the renewal capacity of the basin. Proposed response measures include reallocation of resources among different uses, inter-basin water transfers, drawing water from six small dams on the Kashafroud River, reducing groundwater extraction, and replacing groundwater extraction for agriculture by reuse of urban wastewater. This study concludes that although changes in global climatic parameters have altered environmental features in the basin, local factors, such as water utilization beyond the renewable capacity of the basin, are more significant in worsening the impacts of climate change.
