scholarly journals BIOMASS: An Underrated and Deprioritized Energy Potential

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  

It is pleasing to know that Biomass which is commonly regarded as waste materials are being explored all around the globe for the development of mankind. Unfortunately, some regions with biomass as their strongest and main energy potential are not benefiting from this energy opportunity. It is worrisome to know that these countries still suffer from insufficient electricity as well as some failure in agriculture caused by unavailability of fertilizer. This unfortunate incidence is caused by lack of information which is the primary reason for underrating and deprioritizing Biomass.

Atmosphere ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Al-Helal ◽  
Abdullah Alsadon ◽  
Samy Marey ◽  
Abdullah Ibrahim ◽  
Mohamed Shady ◽  
...  

In arid regions, drastic seasonal variations in the climatic parameters are common; thus, a high potential of geothermal effects for heating/cooling applications is expected. However, such applications are very limited in these regions due to the lack of information about underground temperature profiles of the surface and shallow zones. Therefore, this study aims to (i) measure the underground temperature profile for one year to determine the optimum depth for burying EAHE pipes; (ii) examine the possibility of water vapour condensation occurring in the buried EAHE pipes, if the air let into the pipes was humid; and (iii) quantify the maximum cooling/heating capacity, if an EAHE was implemented. The results show that a 3-meter depth is optimal to bury EAHE pipes, where the ground temperature is 32 °C in the summer and 29 °C in the winter. These temperatures would provide a maximum cooling/heating capacity of 1000/890 MJ day−1 for each 1 m3 of humid air exhausted from a greenhouse. If the EAHE were to operate in a closed loop with a greenhouse, the condensation of water vapour in the EAHE pipes would be impossible during the cooling process. The results of this study are useful for designers using geothermal effects for indoor space cooling and heating in arid regions.


Author(s):  
A. H. Makled ◽  
E. J. Grotke

Plasma arc gasification is an emerging technology for generation of renewable energy and other by-products from a variety of waste. This bold technology is under development in a number of locations around the world, although it is too early to fully know if the technology is technically feasible and economically viable on a truly heterogeneous municipal waste stream like that found in the U.S. Plasma arc technology in the United States in other applications dates back approximately 40 years when it was utilized by NASA to test heat shield materials for spacecraft. In 1989, plasma arc technology was used in an iron melting furnace in Defiance, Ohio (USA). Plasma arc gasification has been used in municipal solid waste destruction since 1999 in Japan for destruction of solid waste and automobile shredder residue. Plasma arc gasification heats waste materials to temperatures in excess of 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) to break the molecular bonds and gasify the materials. This liberates the energy potential of the waste materials and melts the residue to an inert, glass-like slag, which may be used as an aggregate in construction and manufacturing operations. If this market can be developed, it will significantly reduce the need for landfill disposal in the future. St. Lucie County, Florida (USA), is in the process of negotiating with a developer for the construction of a plasma arc gasification facility that will process 1,000 tons per day of municipal solid waste. The facility may be the first large scale solid waste plasma arc processing facility in the United States. Camp Dresser & McKee is assisting St. Lucie County to negotiate the agreements for this project. The project is expected to be privately financed, so the County will not be putting any money at risk. In this paper, we will describe the plasma arc technology, present its historical applications, and discuss the St. Lucie project from initial conception to its current status.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bibi Abrahim ◽  
Oudho Homenauth

Guyana’s growing coconut industry has great potential for the generation of renewable energy using its waste materials currently discarded unsustainably. This study sought to investigate the energy potential of husks and shells of three common coconut varieties grown in Guyana. In this experiment, samples of coconut husks and shells were subjected to proximate, ultimate and calorific analyses. These analyses indicated that the energy value of the husks and shells of tall and dwarf coconuts were high, confirming the findings presented in previous studies. It was found that coconut shells have a higher energy content as opposed to the husk, mainly due to the presence of lignin and cellulose and a lower moisture content. The shell of one of the dwarf varieties (firmer and thinner) produced the greatest energy output. The coconut husks, however, followed closely where the tall variety reported the greatest energy value. Based on the energy output of the waste materials, possible energy, power, carbon, diesel and price savings were determined, if energy conversion is to be implemented. The analyses show substantial benefits for the country with respect to waste management, carbon emissions and costs, indicating the need for energy generation from coconut waste. A proposed gasification-pyrolysis system was developed and provided a baseline for the use of coconut biomass for energy generation in Guyana.


Author(s):  
J.M. Cowley

The problem of "understandinq" electron microscope imaqes becomes more acute as the resolution is improved. The naive interpretation of an imaqe as representinq the projection of an atom density becomes less and less appropriate. We are increasinqly forced to face the complexities of coherent imaqinq of what are essentially phase objects. Most electron microscopists are now aware that, for very thin weakly scatterinq objects such as thin unstained bioloqical specimens, hiqh resolution imaqes are best obtained near the optimum defocus, as prescribed by Scherzer, where the phase contrast imaqe qives a qood representation of the projected potential, apart from a lack of information on the lower spatial frequencies. But phase contrast imaqinq is never simple except in idealized limitinq cases.


Author(s):  
P.R. Smith ◽  
W.E. Fowler ◽  
U. Aebi

An understanding of the specific interactions of actin with regulatory proteins has been limited by the lack of information about the structure of the actin filament. Molecular actin has been studied in actin-DNase I complexes by single crystal X-ray analysis, to a resolution of about 0.6nm, and in the electron microscope where two dimensional actin sheets have been reconstructed to a maximum resolution of 1.5nm. While these studies have shown something of the structure of individual actin molecules, essential information about the orientation of actin in the filament is still unavailable.The work of Egelman & DeRosier has, however, suggested a method which could be used to provide an initial quantitative estimate of the orientation of actin within the filament. This method involves the quantitative comparison of computed diffraction data from single actin filaments with diffraction data derived from synthetic filaments constructed using the molecular model of actin as a building block. Their preliminary work was conducted using a model consisting of two juxtaposed spheres of equal size.


Author(s):  
A.M. Pucci ◽  
C. Fruschelli ◽  
A. Rebuffat ◽  
M. Guarna ◽  
C. Alessandrini ◽  
...  

Amphibians have paired muscular pump organs, called “lymph heart”, which rhythmically pump back the lymph from the large subcutaneous lymph sacs into the veins. The structure and ultrastructure of these organs is well known but to date there is a lack of information about the innervation of lymph hearts. Therefore has been carried out an ultrastructural study in order to study the distribution of the nerve fibers, and the morphology of the neuromuscular junctions in the lymph heart wall.


Crisis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 326-332
Author(s):  
Ivonne Andrea Florez ◽  
Devon LoParo ◽  
Nakia Valentine ◽  
Dorian A. Lamis

Abstract. Background: Early identification and appropriate referral services are priorities to prevent suicide. Aims: The aim of this study was to describe patterns of identification and referrals among three behavioral health centers and determine whether youth demographic factors and type of training received by providers were associated with identification and referral patterns. Method: The Early Identification Referral Forms were used to gather the data of interest among 820 youth aged 10–24 years who were screened for suicide risk (females = 53.8%). Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regressions were conducted to examine significant associations. Results: Significant associations between gender, race, and age and screening positive for suicide were found. Age and race were significantly associated with different patterns of referrals and/or services received by youths. For providers, being trained in Counseling on Access to Lethal Means was positively associated with number of referrals to inpatient services. Limitations: The correlational nature of the study and lack of information about suicide risk and comorbidity of psychiatric symptoms limit the implications of the findings. Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of considering demographic factors when identifying and referring youth at risk to ensure standard yet culturally appropriate procedures to prevent suicide.


1906 ◽  
Vol 61 (1591supp) ◽  
pp. 25490-25491
Keyword(s):  

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Kopasker

Existing research has consistently shown that perceptions of the potential economic consequences of Scottish independence are vital to levels of support for constitutional change. This paper attempts to investigate the mechanism by which expectations of the economic consequences of independence are formed. A hypothesised causal micro-level mechanism is tested that relates constitutional preferences to the existing skill investments of the individual. Evidence is presented that larger skill investments are associated with a greater likelihood of perceiving economic threats from independence. Additionally, greater perceived threat results in lower support for independence. The impact of uncertainty on both positive and negative economic expectations is also examined. While uncertainty has little effect on negative expectations, it significantly reduces the likelihood of those with positive expectations supporting independence. Overall, it appears that a general economy-wide threat is most significant, and it is conjectured that this stems a lack of information on macroeconomic governance credentials.


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