A computer-based simulation and evaluation: Applying an automatic sprinkler system for extinguishing scooter fires in arcade areas

In Taiwan, arcade buildings function as areas for parking scooters, spaces for markets, and walkways for pedestrians. In recent decades, arcade fires have caused many cases of serious casualties due to the likely direction of fire that spreads from the first floor up, which hinders the evacuation routes. The majority of fire prevention research has focused on confined spaces or rooms instead of arcade areas. Specifically, the controlling of fire spreads that are caused by scooters in arcade areas has been rarely discussed. The variables of spaces, Response Time Index, and sprinkler activation temperatures are modeled in five fire scenarios with the Fire Dynamics Simulator software to simulate the real arcade fires in this paper. The results show that (1) setting an automatic sprinkler system can effectively suppress the arcade fires, (2) the quick response sprinkler RTI≦50 is the most effective type, and the result is similar to RTI=25, and (3) the sprinkler settings with either 2.3 meters or 2.6 meters do not have significant effects on heat release rates.

Design of Compact MIMO Multiband Antenna for Wireless Radio Communication Application

Slot and patch modification for the design of a compact multiband antenna with Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) functionality is proposed in this paper. At various frequency bands, the antenna performance is obtained by modification and addition of slot and patch shapes in the design of the compact MIMO multiband antenna. Addition of slots or patches is done separately in the already existing multiband antenna designs. Whereas in this work, the addition of slot and patch are combined. Arlon Diclad 880 with a dielectric constant of 2.17 - 2.2 (εr) and height 0.75mm is used for the antenna design. The MIMO multiband antenna with the dimension of 12.5 mm × 7.5 mm is designed. On various millimeter-wave frequency bands ranging from 20 GHz to 40 GHz, the MIMO antenna can function as observed in the results of simulation and evaluation. This work shows that microstrip antennas can be added with slots and patches during their design and development, thereby enabling the antenna to operate under multiple frequency bands.

Numerical Modeling, Simulation and Evaluation of Conventional and Hybrid Photovoltaic Modules Interconnection Configurations under Partial Shading Conditions

Partial shading on solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays is a prevalent problem in photovoltaic systems that impair the performance of PV modules and is responsible for reduced power output as compared to that in standard irradiance conditions thereby resulting in the appearance of multiple maximas on panel output power characteristics. These maxims contribute to mismatch power losses among PV modules. The mismatch losses depend on shading characteristics together with different interconnected configuration schemes of PV modules. The research presents a comparative analysis of partial shading effects on a 4 x4 PV array system connected in series(S), parallel (P), serries-parallel (SP),total-cross-tied (TCT),central-cross-tied(CCT),bridge-linked(BL),bridge-linked total cross-tied (BLTCT) ,honey-comb(HC), honey-comb total-cross-tied (HCTCT) and ladder (LD) configurations using MATLAB/Simulink. The PV module SPR-X20-250-BLK was used for modeling and simulation analysis. Each module is comprised of 72 number of PV cells and a combination of 16 PV modules was employed for the contextual analysis. Accurate mathematical modeling for the HCTCT configuration under partial shading conditions (PSCs) is provided for the first time and is verified from the simulation. The different configuration schemes were investigated under short-narrow,short-wide,long-narrow,long-wide, diagonal, entire row distribution, and entire column distribution partial shading condition patterns with mathematical implementation and simulation of passing clouds. The performance of array configurations is compared in terms of maximum power generated ), mismatch power loss (∆), relative power loss ) and the fill factor (FF). It was inferred that on average, TCT configuration yielded maximum power generation under all shading patterns among all PV modules interconnection configurations with minimum mismatch power losses followed by hybrid and conventional PV array configurations respectively.

Simulation and Analysis Approaches to Microgrid Systems Design: Emerging Trends and Sustainability Framework Application

Energy systems modelling and design are a critical aspect of planning and development among researchers, electricity planners, infrastructure developers, utilities, decision-makers, and other relevant stakeholders. However, to achieve a sustainable energy supply, the energy planning approach needs to integrate some key dimensions. Importantly, these dimensions are necessary to guide the simulation and evaluation. It is against this backdrop that this paper focuses on the simulation and analysis approaches for sustainable planning, design, and development of microgrids based on clean energy resources. The paper first provides a comprehensive review of the existing simulation tools and approaches used for designing energy generation technologies. It then discusses and compares the traditional strategies and the emerging trends in energy systems simulation based on the software employed, the type of problem to be solved, input parameters provided, and the expected output. The paper introduces a practical simulation framework for sustainable energy planning, which is based on the social-technical-economic-environmental-policy (STEEP) model. The STEEP represents a holistic sustainability model that considers the key energy systems planning dimensions compared to the traditional techno-economic model used in several existing simulation tools and analyses. The paper provides insights into data-driven analysis and energy modelling software development applications.

Training with High Fidelity Simulation in the Care of Patients with Coronavirus—A Learning Experience in Native Health Care Multi-Professional Teams

The training of emergency and intensive care teams in technical and non-technical skills is fundamental. The general aim of this study was to evaluate the training of various professional teams with simulations based on the care of COVID-19 patients using Zone 3 simulations (native emergency medical services and intensive care units-ICU teams) in the Region of Murcia (Spain). A mixed pilot study was designed (qualitative/quantitative) comprised of three phases: Phase 1: detection of needs (focus groups), Phase 2: design of simulation scenarios, and Phase 3: training with high-fidelity simulation and evaluation of competences. The results were used to determine the real training needs of these health professionals, which were used to design four simulation scenarios in line with these needs. The team competences were evaluated before and after the training session, with increases observed after the training sessions, especially in non-technical skills such as communication. Training with zone 3 simulation, with multi-professional native emergency and intensive care teams who provided care to patients with coronavirus was shown to be an effective method, especially for training in non-technical skills. We should consider the training needs of the professionals before the start of any training program to stay one-step ahead of crisis situations.

Simulation and Evaluation of the Radiation Dose Deposited in Human Tissues by Atmospheric Neutrons

The evaluation of the radiation dose (RD) deposited by atmospheric neutrons in human tissues is of vital importance due to the potential damages that over exposure to this radiation may cause to human health. The goal of this work was to obtain the RD that atmospheric neutrons with energy from 1 to 1000 MeV deposit in tissues of the human body (blood, adipose, bone and brain) as a function of both altitude and latitude. With the help of the Geant4 software, we developed a numerical simulation that allowed us to reach our goal; atmospheric neutron fluxes were obtained from the Excel-Based Program for Calculating Atmospheric Cosmic-Ray Spectrum (EXPACS). We found that the RD deposited by atmospheric neutrons increases with the increase in altitude and latitude, e.g., for an altitude of high mountain (4 km), the RD is increased ∼19 times; while, for an altitude of commercial flights (10 km), the RD is increased ∼156 times; in both cases, regarding the RD at sea level. We also found that, in the range of energies from 1 to 100 MeV, the RD deposited in the bone tissue sample is considerably lower that the RD deposited in the blood, adipose and brain tissue samples. On the other hand, for the range of energies between 200 and 1000 MeV, the RD deposited in the bone tissue sample is considerably greater that the RD deposited in the blood, adipose and brain tissue samples.