scholarly journals Overview of predictive CSP spread prospects and its opportunities

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Timon Busse ◽  
Frank Dinter
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
General Idea ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Storage Technology ◽  
The Cost

An investigation was carried out to illustrate the prospects and challenges associated with implementation of concentrating solar power (CSP) with storage technology in South Africa. Various factors were examined that have an effect on the cost of CSP plants and offer an overall review of the opportunities CSP has for the country. This paper appeals the general idea that CSP is not cost effective enough and attempts to illustrate the feasibility of this technology in South Africa.

scholarly journals A Review of Conventional and Innovative- Sustainable Methods for Cleaning Reflectors in Concentrating Solar Power Plants

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 3937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahar Bouaddi ◽  
Aránzazu Fernández-García ◽  
Chris Sansom ◽  
Jon Sarasua ◽  
Fabian Wolfertstetter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Water Based ◽  
Solar Power Plants ◽  
Cleaning Methods ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Solar Field ◽  
High Reflectance

The severe soiling of reflectors deployed in arid and semi arid locations decreases their reflectance and drives down the yield of the concentrating solar power (CSP) plants. To alleviate this issue, various sets of methods are available. The operation and maintenance (O&M) staff should opt for sustainable cleaning methods that are safe and environmentally friendly. To restore high reflectance, the cleaning vehicles of CSP plants must adapt to the constraints of each technology and to the layout of reflectors in the solar field. Water based methods are currently the most commonly used in CSP plants but they are not sustainable due to water scarcity and high soiling rates. The recovery and reuse of washing water can compensate for these methods and make them a more reasonable option for mediterranean and desert environments. Dry methods, on the other hand, are gaining more attraction as they are more suitable for desert regions. Some of these methods rely on ultrasonic wave or vibration for detaching the dust bonding from the reflectors surface, while other methods, known as preventive methods, focus on reducing the soiling by modifying the reflectors surface and incorporating self cleaning features using special coatings. Since the CSP plants operators aim to achieve the highest profit by minimizing the cost of cleaning while maintaining a high reflectance, optimizing the cleaning parameters and strategies is of great interest. This work presents the conventional water-based methods that are currently used in CSP plants in addition to sustainable alternative methods for dust removal and soiling prevention. Also, the cleaning effectiveness, the environmental impacts and the economic aspects of each technology are discussed.

San Diego Field Operational Test of Smart Call Boxes: Technical Aspects

1997 ◽  
Vol 1603 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Banks ◽  
Patrick A. Powell
Keyword(s):  
System Integration ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Test System ◽  
Incident Detection ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Operational Test ◽  
Field Operational Test ◽  
The Cost

Smart call boxes are devices similar to those used as emergency call boxes in California. The basic call box consists of a microprocessor, a cellular transceiver, and a solar power source. The smart call box system also includes data-collection devices, call-box maintenance computers, and data recording systems at a central location. The goal of the smart call box field operational test (FOT) was to demonstrate that smart call boxes are feasible and cost-effective means of processing and transmitting data for tasks such as traffic census, incident detection, hazardous weather reporting, changeable message sign control, and video surveillance. The objective of the FOT evaluation was to determine the cost-effectiveness of smart call boxes, but because of schedule slippage the evaluation focused on only functional adequacy and capital costs. The concept for the smart call box system was found to be feasible but not necessarily optimal for the tasks involved. System integration was a major problem. Also, the number of external devices that can be attached to a single call box while maintaining the economic advantages of the system is restricted by wiring costs and limitations of the solar power supply. Test system performance was mixed. One subtest was canceled before the installation of equipment, functional systems were produced for only three of the four remaining subtests, and reliable operation was observed in only one case. In most cases, system costs will be dominated by the expense of installing wiring. Consequently, smart call boxes will be cost-effective compared with hardwire systems at many sites but may not be cost-effective compared with alternative wireless systems.

The use of tele-audiology in ototoxicity monitoring: A scoping review

2022 ◽  
pp. 1357633X2110682
Author(s):  
Nazeera Peerbhay ◽  
Danielle R Munsamy ◽  
Hombisa P Dlamini ◽  
Fisokuhle Langa ◽  
Jessica Paken
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Holistic Management ◽  
African Context ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
The Cost

Introduction Due to the growing burden of disease in South Africa, encompassing conditions such as tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus, and cancer, the holistic management of affected patients incorporating ototoxicity monitoring is a necessity. However, ototoxicity monitoring in developing countries may be limited due to a lack of resources and inadequate healthcare facilities. Subsequently, the use of tele-audiology may be a revolutionary technique with the potential to provide audiology services to under-served populations with limited access. Methods The study aimed to describe the use of tele-audiology services in ototoxicity monitoring through a scoping review of English peer-reviewed articles from June 2009 to June 2020. Seventeen articles were purposively selected from the following databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Taylor and Francis Online, WorldCat, and Google Scholar. Data was extracted as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses diagram and results were analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Results and discussion While a minority of the studies indicated that the cost of implementation and network connectivity within a South African context pose as barriers, most researchers reported that tele-audiology provides a reliable, time-efficient, cost-effective, and easily accessible alternative for ototoxicity monitoring. Hardware including the WAHTS, KUDUwave, and OtoID, along with software such as the TabSINT, Otocalc, uHear, and the hearTest, have proven to be useful for ototoxicity monitoring. A need for further investigations regarding the feasibility of tele-audiology implementation in South Africa is evident. Despite this, it provides audiologists with an opportunity to offer contact-less services during COVID-19, thus, confirming its versatility as an augmentative method for ototoxicity monitoring.

scholarly journals Improved High Temperature Solar Absorbers for Use in Concentrating Solar Power Central Receiver Applications

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ambrosini ◽  
Timothy N. Lambert ◽  
Marlene Bencomo ◽  
Aaron Hall ◽  
Kent vanEvery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Solar Absorptance ◽  
Thermal Emittance ◽  
Solar Absorbers ◽  
Operating Temperatures ◽  
Stability Issues ◽  
The Cost

Concentrating solar power (CSP) systems use solar absorbers to convert the heat from sunlight to electric power. Increased operating temperatures are necessary to lower the cost of solar-generated electricity by improving efficiencies and reducing thermal energy storage costs. Durable new materials are needed to cope with operating temperatures < 600°C. The current coating technology (Pyromark High Temperature paint) has a solar absorptance in excess of 0.95 but a thermal emittance greater than 0.8, which results in large thermal losses at high temperatures. In addition, because solar receivers operate in air, these coatings have long term stability issues that add to the operating costs of CSP facilities. Ideal absorbers must have high solar absorptance (>0.95) and low thermal emittance (<0.3 at receiver surface operating temperatures), be stable in air, and be low-cost and readily manufacturable. Recent efforts at Sandia National Laboratories have begun to address the issue of more efficient solar selective coatings for tower applications. This paper will present an overview of these efforts which address the development of new coatings on several fronts.

scholarly journals Cost-effectiveness of a Pharmacogenomic Test for Stratified Isoniazid Dosing in Treatment of Active Tuberculosis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil E Rens ◽  
Carin A Uyl-de Groot ◽  
Jeremy D Goldhaber-Fiebert ◽  
Julio Croda ◽  
Jason R Andrews
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Tree Model ◽  
A Value ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Nat2 Gene ◽  
Potential Clinical Impact ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Background There is marked interindividual variability in metabolism and resulting toxicity and effectiveness of drugs used for tuberculosis treatment. For isoniazid, mutations in the N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) gene explain &gt;88% of pharmacokinetic variability. However, weight-based dosing remains the norm globally. The potential clinical impact and cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenomic-guided therapy (PGT) are unknown. Methods We constructed a decision tree model to project lifetime costs and benefits of isoniazid PGT for drug-susceptible tuberculosis in Brazil, South Africa, and India. PGT was modeled to reduce isoniazid toxicity among slow NAT2 acetylators and reduce treatment failure among rapid acetylators. The genotyping test was assumed to cost the same as the GeneXpert test. The main outcomes were costs (2018 US dollars), quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results In Brazil, PGT gained 19 discounted life-years (23 QALYs) and cost $11 064 per 1000 patients, a value of $476 per QALY gained. In South Africa, PGT gained 15 life-years (19 QALYs) and cost $33 182 per 1000 patients, a value of $1780 per QALY gained. In India, PGT gained 20 life-years (24 QALYs) and cost $13 195 per 1000 patients, a value of $546 per QALY gained. One-way sensitivity analyses showed the cost-effectiveness to be robust to all input parameters. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were below per capita gross domestic product in all 3 countries in 99% of simulations. Conclusions Isoniazid PGT improves health outcomes and would be cost-effective in the treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis in Brazil, South Africa, and India.

Lowering the Levelized Cost of Electricity of a Concentrating Solar Power Tower With a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycle

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Schmitt ◽  
Jason Wilkes ◽  
Timothy Allison ◽  
Jeffrey Bennett ◽  
Karl Wygant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Cycle Performance ◽  
Cycle Model ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Levelized Cost Of Electricity ◽  
Levelized Cost ◽  
Power Block ◽  
The Cost

In order to maintain viability as a future power-generating technology, concentrating solar power (CSP) must reduce its levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). The cost of CSP is assessed with the System Advisor Model (SAM) from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The performance of an integrally geared compressor-expander recuperated recompression cycle with supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) as the working fluid is modeled. A comparison of the cycle model to the integrated SAM cycle performance is made. The cycle model incorporates innovative cycle control methods to improve the range of efficiency, including inventory control. The SAM model is modified to accommodate the predicted cycle performance. The ultimate goal of minimizing the LCOE is targeted through multiple approaches, including the cost of the power block, the impact of system scale, the sizing of the thermal system relative to the power block system, the operating approach for changes in ambient temperature and availability of sunlight. Through reduced power block cost and a detailed cycle model, the LCOE is modeled to be 5.98 ȼ/kWh, achieving targeted techno-economic performance. The LCOE of the CSP system is compared to the cost of hybrid solar and fossil-fired systems. An analysis is made on the efficacy of a fossil backup system with CSP and how that relates to potential future costs of carbon dioxide emissions.

scholarly journals Clearing invasive alien plants as a cost-effective strategy for water catchment management: The case of the Olifants river catchment, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 774-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tshepo Morokong ◽  
James Blignaut ◽  
Nonophile Nkambule ◽  
Shepherd Mudhavanhu ◽  
Thulile Vundla
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Alien Plants ◽  
Catchment Management ◽  
Invasive Alien Plants ◽  
River Catchment ◽  
Olifants River ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Invasive alien plants have a negative impact on ecosystem goods and services derived from ecosystems. Consequently, the aggressive spread of invasive alien plants (IAPs) in the river catchments of South Africa is a major threat to, inter alia, water security. The Olifants River catchment is one such a catchment that is under pressure because of the high demand for water from mainly industrial sources and unsustainable land-use, which includes IAPs. This study considered the cost-effectiveness of clearing IAPs and compared these with the cost of a recently constructed dam. The methods used for data collection were semistructured interviews, site observation, desktop data analysis, and a literature review to assess the impact of IAPs on the catchment’s water supply. The outcomes of this study indicate that clearing invasive alien plants is a cost-effective intervention with a Unit Reference Value (URV) of R1.44/m3, which compares very favourably with that of the De Hoop dam, the URV for which is R2.93/m3. These results suggest that clearing invasive alien plants is a cost-effective way of catchment management, as the opportunity cost of not doing so (forfeiting water to the value of R2.93/m3) is higher than that of protecting the investment in the dam.

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