Holistic Pre-Feasibility Study of Comminution Routes for a Brazilian Itabirite Ore

Comminution is an essential step in processing itabirite ores, given the need to liberate silica and other contaminants from the iron minerals for downstream concentration and then pellet feed production. In general, these ores in Brazil are not particularly hard to crush and grind, but both capital (CAPEx) and operating (OPEx) expenditures in this stage of preparation can be critical for the project, in particular due to uncertainties in iron ore prices. Several circuits have been designed and are in operation for this type of ore in Brazil; however, it is not yet clear which technologies are more cost-effective and in which configuration they should be applied. This work critically analyzes four comminution circuits for an undisclosed case study. For these circuits, CAPEx, OPEx, and some environmental sustainability indices, as well as qualitative technical criteria, were used in the comparisons. This work concludes that two of these process routes, especially those based on more energy-efficient technologies (and one of these still rarely explored even at bench-scale), have demonstrated to be very attractive from multiple standpoints.

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NEAR ZERO ENERGY HOUSE (NZEH) DESIGN VARIABLES FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction ◽

10.14455/isec.res.2016.121 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Yusuf Latief ◽

Mohammed Ali Berawi ◽

Leni Supriadi ◽

Jade Petroceany ◽

Ayu Herzanita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficient ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Sustainable Growth ◽

Housing Development ◽

High Price ◽

Zero Energy ◽

Energy Efficient Buildings ◽

Design Variables ◽

Energy Efficient Building

Housing development, as part of the economic development must be supported by energy availability in order to obtain a sustainable growth. One of the approaches to support the renewable energy promotions is designing and building energy efficient housing. However, optimal design of energy efficient buildings is facing two conflicting requirements, namely cost effective consideration and minimum environmental impact. The high costs from energy efficient building such as the Near Zero Energy House (nZEH) is due to high price of materials and equipment used, such as solar panel, insulation and other supporting materials. Indonesia is situated at the equator and received sunlight throughout the year. Nonetheless, this potential has not been fully discovered due to the high cost of the solar generated energy technology for housing. Moreover, this technology is not integrated with the main electricity network. Thus, the objective of this study is to identify the design variables for nZEH that suit the tropical climate condition in Indonesia. Experiments and Case Study are used for the study, and the validated design variables for nZEH, which includes building orientation, PV, fenestration, and passive design, will be the basis for optimum nZEH design.

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Feasibility Study of an Aerial Lifting Device Using Aerodynamic Drag for Ascent

Volume 5B: 43rd Mechanisms and Robotics Conference ◽

10.1115/detc2019-98138 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Xuan Lin ◽

Gabriel Fernandez ◽

Sepehr Ghassemi ◽

Dennis W. Hong

Keyword(s):

Feasibility Study ◽

Energy Efficient ◽

Aerodynamic Drag ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Delivery Systems ◽

Effective Energy ◽

Lifting Force ◽

Series Of Experiments ◽

Modular Method ◽

Traditional Approaches

Abstract Flying typically involves thrust or buoyancy in order to climb in altitude while trying to minimize drag. These setups can result in large, energy-exhaustive mechanisms. This paper presents a novel alternative to the traditional approaches of flying by utilizing aerodynamic drag. Drag can be used as an opposing force needed to lift a load off of the ground. The concept is verified through a series of experiments in which a balloon is used to lift a parachute to a desired height, and then an actuator with a load on the ground retracts a rope connected to the parachute. Aerodynamic drag is translated into a lifting force. This cost-effective, energy efficient, and modular method can increase the mobility of robots, delivery systems etc.

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Using Conjoint Analyses to Improve Cable Yarder Design Characteristics: An Austrian Yarder Case Study to Advance Cost-Effective Extraction

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10020165 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 165 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Martin Kühmaier ◽

Hunter Harrill ◽

Mohammad Ghaffariyan ◽

Manfred Hofer ◽

Karl Stampfer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Online Survey ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Timber Harvesting ◽

User Preferences ◽

Design Characteristics ◽

Steep Terrain ◽

Integrate Design

Steep country harvesting has been identified as the main bottleneck to achieving greater profitability in the forestry sector of New Zealand and Australia. An improvement of efficiency, work safety and environmental sustainability should be realized by developing an advanced steep terrain timber harvesting system based on innovative Austrian technology. To identify the best suitable configuration of a cable yarder for steep terrain harvesting, user preferences based on an online survey (conjoint analysis) have been evaluated to answer the following questions: (1) What attributes of a new yarder design are most important to consumers? (2) Which criteria do stakeholders consider when selecting a cable yarder? (3) What are the weights representing the relative importance of criteria? Using eight specific design scenarios a fourth question, being which cable yarder concept is the best, was also answered. This case study shows that conjoint analyses is an effective tool to assess, rate and subsequently integrate design characteristics. Based on the results of the analysis, a cable yarder prototype will be manufactured in Austria and transferred to New Zealand for testing and demonstration.

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COST-EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO CONTROL INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND COMFORT IN ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING RETROFITTING

Environmental Engineering and Management Journal ◽

10.30638/eemj.2015.160 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (7) ◽

pp. 1487-1494 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Marco Arnesano ◽

Gian Marco Revel ◽

Filippo Pietroni ◽

Jurgen Frick ◽

Manuela Reichert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Energy Efficient ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Energy Efficient Building

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A Virtual Laboratory to Practice Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks: A Case Study on Energy Efficient and Safe Weighted Clustering Algorithm

Journal of Information Processing Systems ◽

10.3745/jips.02.0019 ◽

2015 ◽

Keyword(s):

Wireless Sensor Networks ◽

Sensor Networks ◽

Energy Efficient ◽

Clustering Algorithm ◽

Wireless Sensor ◽

Virtual Laboratory ◽

Mobile Wireless ◽

Weighted Clustering ◽

Mobile Wireless Sensor

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Improving the Environmental Sustainability of Flash Geothermal Power Plants—A Case Study

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su71115262 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. 15262-15283 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Lorenzo Bruscoli ◽

Daniele Fiaschi ◽

Giampaolo Manfrida ◽

Duccio Tempesti

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Power Plants ◽

Geothermal Power

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On the Investigation of Energy Efficient Torque Distribution Strategies through a Comprehensive Powertrain Model

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13084549 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 4549

Author(s):

Sara Salamone ◽

Basilio Lenzo ◽

Giovanni Lutzemberger ◽

Francesco Bucchi ◽

Luca Sani

Keyword(s):

Energy Storage ◽

Electric Vehicles ◽

Energy Efficient ◽

Storage System ◽

Energy Storage System ◽

Torque Distribution ◽

Driving Cycles ◽

Energy Models ◽

Battery State Of Charge

In electric vehicles with multiple motors, the torque at each wheel can be controlled independently, offering significant opportunities for enhancing vehicle dynamics behaviour and system efficiency. This paper investigates energy efficient torque distribution strategies for improving the operational efficiency of electric vehicles with multiple motors. The proposed strategies are based on the minimisation of power losses, considering the powertrain efficiency characteristics, and are easily implementable in real-time. A longitudinal dynamics vehicle model is developed in Simulink/Simscape environment, including energy models for the electrical machines, the converter, and the energy storage system. The energy efficient torque distribution strategies are compared with simple distribution schemes under different standardised driving cycles. The effect of the different strategies on the powertrain elements, such as the electric machine and the energy storage system, are analysed. Simulation results show that the optimal torque distribution strategies provide a reduction in energy consumption of up to 5.5% for the case-study vehicle compared to simple distribution strategies, also benefiting the battery state of charge.

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The socio-spatial politics of royalties and their distribution: A case study of the Surat Basin, Queensland

Environment and Planning A Economy and Space ◽

10.1177/0308518x211026656 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0308518X2110266

Author(s):

Neil Argent ◽

Sean Markey ◽

Greg Halseth ◽

Laura Ryser ◽

Fiona Haslam-McKenzie

Keyword(s):

Cost Effective ◽

Indigenous Communities ◽

Energy Extraction ◽

Grant Application ◽

Coal Seam Gas ◽

Spatial Politics ◽

Developmental Needs ◽

Development Fund ◽

Effective Use

This paper is concerned with the socio-spatial and ethical politics of redistribution, specifically the allocation of natural resources rents from political and economic cores to the economic and geographical peripheries whence the resource originated. Based on a case study of the coal seam gas sector in Queensland's Surat Basin, this paper focuses on the operation of the Queensland State Government's regional development fund for mining and energy extraction-affected regions. Employing an environmental justice framework, we critically explore the operation of these funds in ostensibly helping constituent communities in becoming resilient to the worst effects of the ‘staples trap’. Drawing on secondary demographic and housing data for the region, as well as primary information collected from key respondents from mid-2018 to early 2019, we show that funds were distributed across all of the local government areas, and allocated to projects and places primarily on a perceived economic needs basis. However, concerns were raised with the probity of the funds’ administration. In terms of recognition justice, the participation of smaller and more remote towns and local Indigenous communities was hampered by their structural marginalisation. Procedurally, the funds were criticised for the lack of local consultation taken in the development and approval of projects. While spatially concentrated expenditure may be the most cost-effective use of public monies, we argue that grant application processes should be open, transparent and inclusive, and the outcomes cognisant of the developmental needs of smaller communities, together with the need to foster regional solidarity and coherence.

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