scholarly journals Circumventing Unintended Impacts of Waste N95 Facemask Generated during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Conceptual Design Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Oseweuba Valentine Okoro ◽  
Adjoa Nkrumah Banson ◽  
Hongxia Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Fermentation Process ◽  
Combined Heat And Power ◽  
Hydrothermal Liquefaction ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Generation Process ◽  
Liquefaction Process ◽  
Waste Conversion

The global crisis arising from the current COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a surge in the magnitude of global waste from used Personal Protective Equipment with special emphasis on waste N95 facemask. Creative approaches are therefore required to resolve the surging facemask waste disposal issue in an economical and environmentally friendly manner. In an attempt to resolve the evolving global waste challenge, the present study has assessed the economic and environmental performances of converting N95 facemasks to steam and electricity via a combined heat and power plant, to ethanol via a syngas fermentation process, and to an energy-dense gasoline-like oil product via a hydrothermal liquefaction process. These processes were assessed using “conceptual” process models developed using ASPEN plus as the process simulation tool. Economic and environment assessments were undertaken using net present values (NPVs) and the rate of potential environmental impacts (PEIs) respectively, as sufficient performance measures. Therefore, the present study was able to establish that the conversion of waste N95 facemask to syngas prior to a fermentation process for ethanol production constituted the least economical and least environmental friendly process with a negative NPV and the highest rate of PEI (1.59 PEI/h) value calculated. The NPV values calculated for N95 facemask waste conversion to steam and electricity and energy-dense oil processes were US$ 36.6 × 106 and US$ 53 × 106 respectively, suggesting the preference for the production of a valuable energy-dense oil product. Furthermore, it was observed that when the environmental performance of both processes was considered, rates of PEIs of 1.20 and 0.28 PEI/h were estimated for the energy-dense oil production process and the steam and electricity generation process, respectively. Therefore, the study was able to establish that the utilisation of waste N95 facemask for steam and electricity generation and for generating an energy-dense oil product are both promising approaches that could aid in the resolution of the waste issue if both environmental and economic performances constitute crucial considerations.

scholarly journals Complementarity between Combined Heat and Power Systems, Solar PV and Hydropower at a District Level: Sensitivity to Climate Characteristics along an Alpine Transect

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 4156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Handriyanti Diah Puspitarini ◽  
Baptiste François ◽  
Marco Baratieri ◽  
Casey Brown ◽  
Mattia Zaramella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Systems ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Combined Heat And Power ◽  
District Level ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Seasonal Temperature ◽  
Generation Process ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Heat Demand

Combined heat and power systems (CHP) produce heat and electricity simultaneously. Their resulting high efficiency makes them more attractive from the energy managers’ perspective than other conventional thermal systems. Although heat is a by-product of the electricity generation process, system operators usually operate CHP systems to satisfy heat demand. Electricity generation from CHP is thus driven by the heat demand, which follows the variability of seasonal temperature, and thus is not always correlated with the fluctuation of electricity demand. Consequently, from the perspective of the electricity grid operator, CHP systems can be seen as a non-controllable energy source similar to other renewable energy sources such as solar, wind or hydro. In this study, we investigate how ‘non-controllable’ electricity generation from CHP systems combines with ‘non-controllable’ electricity generation from solar photovoltaic panels (PV) and run-of-the river (RoR) hydropower at a district level. Only these three energy sources are considered within a 100% renewable mix scenario. Energy mixes with different shares of CHP, solar and RoR are evaluated regarding their contribution to total energy supply and their capacity to reduce generation variability. This analysis is carried out over an ensemble of seventeen catchments in North Eastern Italy located along a climate transect ranging from high elevation and snow dominated head-water catchments to rain-fed and wet basins at lower elevations. Results show that at a district scale, integration of CHP systems with solar photovoltaic and RoR hydropower leads to higher demand satisfaction and lower variability of the electricity balance. Results also show that including CHP in the energy mix modifies the optimal relative share between solar and RoR power generation. Results are consistent across the climate transect. For some districts, using the electricity from CHP might also be a better solution than building energy storage for solar PV.

scholarly journals ECO-DESIGN ACTIONS TO IMPROVE LIFE CYCLE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF FACE MASKS IN THE PANDEMIC ERA

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 1333-1342
Author(s):  
Núria Boix Rodríguez ◽  
Marco Marconi ◽  
Claudio Favi ◽  
Giovanni Formentini
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Environmental Problem ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Near Future

AbstractFace masks are currently considered essential devices that people must wear today and in the near future, until the COVID-19 pandemic will be completely defeated through specific medicines and vaccines. Such devices are generally made of thermoplastic polymers, as polypropylene and polyethylene and are single use products. Even if in this period the sanitary emergency must have the maximum priority, the world society should not completely forget the environmental problem that are causing more and more obvious climate changes with correlated damages to ecosystems and human health. Despite the well-known correlation among anti-COVID protective equipment (or more generally medical devices) and environmental issues, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and eco-design-based studies in this field is very scarce. The present study aims to derive the most important environmental criticalities of such products, by using LCA and product circularity indicators of five different common masks. The final aim is to provide eco-design guidelines, useful to design new face masks by preventing negative impact on the environment.

A review on key design and operational parameters to optimize and develop hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass for biorefinery applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1404-1446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Alper Basar ◽  
Huan Liu ◽  
Helene Carrere ◽  
Eric Trably ◽  
Cigdem Eskicioglu
Keyword(s):  
Process Parameters ◽  
Hydrothermal Liquefaction ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Liquefaction Process

This paper summarizes the existing hydrothermal liquefaction process literature and reveals the effect of process parameters on the bio-crude yield.

The Incremental Commitment Spiral Model for Service-Intensive Projects

2013 ◽  
pp. 94-115
Author(s):  
Supannika Koolmanojwong ◽  
Barry Boehm ◽  
Jo Ann Lane
Keyword(s):  
Web Services ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Software Process ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Software Systems ◽  
Generation Process ◽  
Software Process Models ◽  
Commercial Off The Shelf ◽  
Spiral Model

To provide better service to customers and remain competitive in the business environment, a wide variety of ready-to-use software and technologies are available for one to “grab and go” in order to build up software systems at a rapid pace. Currently, a wide variety of Web services are available and ready to use for this purpose. Current software process models also support commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-based development processes. However, although COTS and Web Services are similar, they are different in many perspectives. On one hand, there are various software process models that support Web services development. Yet there is no process model that supports the project that uses services provided by others. This chapter introduces the Incremental Commitment Spiral Model (ICSM), a new generation process model that provides development guidelines, from exploring a Web service alternative to deployment and maintenance with case studies.

The Incremental Commitment Spiral Model for Service-Intensive Projects

2014 ◽  
pp. 2142-2162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supannika Koolmanojwong ◽  
Barry Boehm ◽  
Jo Ann Lane
Keyword(s):  
Web Services ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Software Process ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Software Systems ◽  
Generation Process ◽  
Software Process Models ◽  
Commercial Off The Shelf ◽  
Spiral Model

To provide better service to customers and remain competitive in the business environment, a wide variety of ready-to-use software and technologies are available for one to “grab and go” in order to build up software systems at a rapid pace. Currently, a wide variety of Web services are available and ready to use for this purpose. Current software process models also support commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-based development processes. However, although COTS and Web Services are similar, they are different in many perspectives. On one hand, there are various software process models that support Web services development. Yet there is no process model that supports the project that uses services provided by others. This chapter introduces the Incremental Commitment Spiral Model (ICSM), a new generation process model that provides development guidelines, from exploring a Web service alternative to deployment and maintenance with case studies.

scholarly journals Does Combined Heat and Power Play the Role of a Bridge in Energy Transition? Evidence from a Cross-Country Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyo-Jin Kim ◽  
Jeong-Joon Yu ◽  
Seung-Hoon Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Parameter Estimate ◽  
Combined Heat And Power ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
The Impact

In an era of energy transition involving an increase in renewable energy and a reduction in coal-fired power generation and nuclear power generation, the role of combined heat and power (CHP) as a bridging energy is highly emphasized. This article attempts to look empirically into the impact of increasing the share of renewable energy in total electricity generation on CHP share in total electricity generation in a cross-country context. Data from 35 countries during the period 2009–2015 were used, and the least absolute deviations estimator was applied to obtain a more robust parameter estimate. The results showed that a 1%p increase in the share of renewable energy significantly increased the CHP share by 0.87%p. Therefore, the hypothesis that CHP serves as bridge energy in the process of energy transition was established.

Emulsification of bio-crude produced from agricultural waste via hydrothermal liquefaction process

Fuel ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 305 ◽  
pp. 121602
Author(s):  
Swathi Bhat ◽  
Venu Babu Borugadda ◽  
Ajay K. Dalai
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Waste ◽  
Hydrothermal Liquefaction ◽  
Liquefaction Process
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