Best Practices for Recovering Rural Abandoned Towers through the Installation of Small-Scale Biogas Plants

Small-scale electrical power generation (<100 kW) from biogas plants to provide off-grid electricity is of growing interest. Currently, gas engines are used to meet this demand. Alternatively, more efficient small-scale solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can be used to enhance electricity generation from small-scale biogas plants. Most electricity generators require a constant gas supply and high gas quality in terms of absence of impurities like H2S. Therefore, to efficiently use the biogas from existing decentralized anaerobic digesters for electricity production, higher quality and stable biogas flow must be guaranteed. The installation of a biogas upgrading and buffer system could be considered; however, the cost implication could be high at a small scale as compared to locally available alternatives such as co-digestion and improved digester operation. Therefore, this study initially describes relevant literature related to feedstock pre-treatment, co-digestion and user operational practices of small-scale digesters, which theoretically could lead to major improvements of anaerobic digestion process efficiency. The theoretical preamble is then coupled to the results of a field study, which demonstrated that many locally available resources and user practices constitute frugal innovations with potential to improve biogas quality and digester performance in off-grid settings.

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Engineering Aspects of Small-Scale Biogas Plants

Biogas Technology, Transfer and Diffusion ◽

10.1007/978-94-009-4313-1_28 ◽

1986 ◽

pp. 213-227

Author(s):

L. Sasse

Keyword(s):

Small Scale ◽

Biogas Plants

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Research and Best Practices to Support Students with Incarcerated Parents

Supporting and Educating Traumatized Students ◽

10.1093/med-psych/9780190052737.003.0009 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 165-180

Author(s):

Megan Sullivan

Keyword(s):

Best Practices ◽

Well Being ◽

Parental Incarceration ◽

Small Scale ◽

Children Of Incarcerated Parents ◽

Incarcerated Parents ◽

School Based ◽

Need Support ◽

Support Students ◽

The Relationship

The understanding of the relationship between a parent’s incarceration and a child’s outcomes has continued to evolve since the 1950s. Until very recently, however, most researchers have undertaken small-scale studies focused on the period when the parent is imprisoned, and most advocates and practitioners have had few resources at their disposal. All educators benefit from understanding how and why children of incarcerated parents may need support and from recognizing gaps in research. This chapter addresses developmental and other associated outcomes of parental incarceration and offers concrete practices schools can use to support children. In order to most effectively help students, school-based professionals should recognize the myriad ways parental incarceration impacts children’s emotional, physical, social and academic well-being.

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Effects of financial management practices on technical performance of building contractors in northeast Nigeria

Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction ◽

10.1108/jfmpc-07-2019-0064 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 201-223

Author(s):

Abdulmalik Sa'eed ◽

Nuru Gambo ◽

Ibrahim Ibrahim Inuwa ◽

Innocent Musonda

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Best Practices ◽

Construction Industry ◽

Financial Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Small Scale ◽

Content Type ◽

Technical Performance ◽

Practical Implications ◽

Northeast Nigeria

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of financial management practices of small-scale building contractors on the technical performance of the contractors in the northern part of Nigeria with international best practices. Previous studies argued that the technical performance of small-scale building contractors in developing countries is poor because of insufficient cash to acquire strategic resources at the outset of a project. This continues to pose a challenge to the sustainable development of the construction industry, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. There is, therefore, a need to identify, assess and compare the effects of financial practices of the contractors with technical performance best practices. Design/methodology/approach The technical performance of each contractor was evaluated using a five-point Likert scale. This is used to obtain the mean technical performance levels of the contractors. A questionnaire survey was administered to the professionals in the industry who were selected by using a proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The contractors’ performance was compared using ANOVA with post hoc, and the effects of contractors’ financial management practices were determined using multiple regression analysis. Findings The results of this study indicated that the contractors in Nigeria were average technical performers and there were large effects of financial management practices on the technical performance of contractors in building projects. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to small-scale building contractors in northeast Nigeria. One of the implications of this study is that it provides the criteria for an evaluation of small-scale building contractors’ technical performance in Nigeria and other developing countries that faced similar problems. Practical implications The practical implications of this study are that it establishes the current level of contractors' technical performance and serves as an awareness of contractors' current financial practices. Social implications This study created bases for self-evaluation of contractors’ technical performance and competition among small-scale contractors in Nigeria for the enhancement of productivity particularly in rural areas for national development. Originality/value This study emanated from the government reports and past studies in the area of performance management based on the persistence of poor technical performance of small-scale contractors in the construction industry.

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Rural Energy in Kenya: Is There a Future for Biogas? A Survey

Energy Exploration & Exploitation ◽

10.1177/014459878900700205 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 116-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Justas K. Laichena

Keyword(s):

Crop Residues ◽

Muscle Power ◽

Gas Production ◽

Energy Crisis ◽

Small Scale ◽

Ic Engine ◽

Rural Energy ◽

Animal Dung ◽

Biogas Plants ◽

Biogas Technology

Most rural people in Kenya rely principally on human and animal muscle power in their work as subsistence farmers, herdsmen, fisherman, or small-scale crop farmers. All the agricultural processes (ranging from ploughing to harvesting) are done largely by hand, with some help from draft animals and simple tools. Firewood is their principal cooking and heating fuel while kerosene in used for lighting. Their economic growth is hence blocked by the energy crisis. Due to their heavy dependence on biomass – mainly firewood, crop residues, and animal dung – they deprive the soil of essential nutrients and pose a threat to the agricultural lands due to deforestation and the resulting soil erosion. The problem of rural energy, therefore places the provision of food and other basic needs at risk. A technology which extracts a more useful and convenient form of fuel from biomass without destroying its fertilizer value than the traditional conversion method of direct combustion is highly desirable. Anaerobic digestion of agricultural residues generates biogas which can be used directly for lighting, cooking, electricity generation, or to power an IC engine for water pumping or milling. The remaining sludge forms a good fertilizer. This paper reviews the role of biomass in meeting Kenya's energy needs and how biogas can contribute in alleviating the rural energy crisis. Biogas production and utilization technology was introduced in Kenya in 1954 but by 1986 there were less than 200 installed biogas plants and less than 25% of these were operational. A survey of installed biogas plants (across the country) was carried out (using questionnaires and interviews) to identify the factors that have inhibited the adoption of biogas technology in Kenya; and the problems which have caused the failure of many of the installed plants. The paper gives a detailed discussion of the findings. The survey showed that amoung the reasons for nonadoption are: lack of capital and sufficient input materials (animal dung and water); limited dissemination of technical knowledge and experience to operate biogas plants; and the lack of credit and extension facilities. It was also found that problems such as scum build-up and corrosion, and the lack of sufficient knowledge on the operation and maintenance of the digesters especially on feeding and feedstock dilution (leading to low gas production) has resulted to many failures. The paper attempts to answer some of the problems which have resulted to the many failures and hindered widespread acceptance of biogas technology in Kenya. Finally the issue of dissemination is discussed.

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Interdisciplinary Concepts for Design and Implementation of Mixed Reality Interactive Neurorehabilitation Systems for Stroke

Physical Therapy ◽

10.2522/ptj.20130581 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 95 (3) ◽

pp. 449-460 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Michael Baran ◽

Nicole Lehrer ◽

Margaret Duff ◽

Vinay Venkataraman ◽

Pavan Turaga ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Best Practices ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Mixed Reality ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

Small Scale ◽

Clear Indication ◽

Media Arts ◽

Design And Implementation ◽

Interactive Computing ◽

Scalable Design

Interactive neurorehabilitation (INR) systems provide therapy that can evaluate and deliver feedback on a patient's movement computationally. There are currently many approaches to INR design and implementation, without a clear indication of which methods to utilize best. This article presents key interactive computing, motor learning, and media arts concepts utilized by an interdisciplinary group to develop adaptive, mixed reality INR systems for upper extremity therapy of patients with stroke. Two INR systems are used as examples to show how the concepts can be applied within: (1) a small-scale INR clinical study that achieved integrated improvement of movement quality and functionality through continuously supervised therapy and (2) a pilot study that achieved improvement of clinical scores with minimal supervision. The notion is proposed that some of the successful approaches developed and tested within these systems can form the basis of a scalable design methodology for other INR systems. A coherent approach to INR design is needed to facilitate the use of the systems by physical therapists, increase the number of successful INR studies, and generate rich clinical data that can inform the development of best practices for use of INR in physical therapy.

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Absorption Chillers to Improve the Performance of Small-Scale Biomethane Liquefaction Plants

Energies ◽

10.3390/en15010092 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 92

Author(s):

Alessio Ciambellotti ◽

Gianluca Pasini ◽

Andrea Baccioli ◽

Lorenzo Ferrari ◽

Stefano Barsali

Keyword(s):

Natural Gas ◽

Waste Heat ◽

Economic Assessment ◽

Specific Consumption ◽

Small Scale ◽

Agricultural Activities ◽

Electricity Cost ◽

Absorption Chillers ◽

Levelized Cost ◽

Biogas Plants

Biomethane liquefaction may help decarbonization in heavy transportation and other hard-to-abate sectors. Small-scale liquefaction plants (<10 ton/day) are suitable for small biogas plants located near farms and other agricultural activities. “Internal refrigerant” refrigeration cycles (e.g., Kapitza cycle) are often proposed for small-scale natural gas liquefaction due to their simplicity. An optimized Kapitza-based cycle is modeled and simulated, and then several modifications were studied to evaluate their influence on the energetic and economic performances. Results showed a specific consumption ranging between 0.65 kWh/kg and 0.54 kWh/kg of bio-LNG with no significant improvements by increasing cycle complexity. Instead, a reduction of 17% was achieved with the implementation of absorption chillers, that effectively turn waste heat into useful cooling energy. An economic assessment was finally carried showing that the Levelized Cost of Liquefation is more affected by electricity cost than additional CapEx.

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Effects of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act and environmental, social and economic factors on biogas plant adoption and agricultural land use change

10.21203/rs.3.rs-61754/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xueqing Yang ◽

Yang Liu ◽

Daniela Thrän ◽

Alberto Bezama ◽

Mei Wang

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy Sources ◽

Small Scale ◽

Agricultural Land Use ◽

Economic Factors ◽

Silage Maize ◽

Biogas Plants

Abstract Background: The German energy transition strategy calls for a reform of the German energy sector. As a result, the Germany Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) was passed in 2000 and is widely regarded as successful legislation for promoting bioenergy development. More than 1,000 biogas plants were constructed in Central Germany (CG) between 2000 and 2014. Despite this, few studies have been conducted for this period that systematically investigate how environmental, social and economic factors, as well as various EEG amendments have impacted biogas production and what the environmental consequence of biogas production development in CG have been. Methods: The impacts of environmental, social and economic factors and different EEG amendments on biogas production decisions in CG were quantified using multivariate linear regression model and the event study econometric technique. A GIS-based spatial analysis was also conducted to provide insight into the changes to agricultural land use that resulted from the development of biogas plants during the EEG period. Results: The main finding was that the income diversification effect resulting from biogas production was the most important factor in a farmer’s decision to adopt biogas production. In addition, all of the EEG amendments had a significant influence on the adoption of biogas production, however EEG III and IV, which tried to promote small-scale plants, were unable to reduce the average size of the plants constructed in these two amendment periods. From a landscape perspective, there was a striking increase in the cultivation of silage maize in CG from 2000 to 2014. Silage maize was intensively cultivated in regions with a high installed biogas plant capacity. Since the first EEG amendment, permanent grassland area slightly increased while arable land area declined in CG. Conclusions: The adoption of biogas production in CG was strongly driven by economic incentives for the farmers, more precisely, by the incentive to diversify their income sources. In addition to increase the subsidy, future EEG amendments should find new measures to encourage the adoption of small-scale biogas plants, which had been unsuccessful in EEG amendments III and IV.

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