Evaluation of Implementation of Biomass and Solar Resources by Energy Systems in the Coal-Mining Areas of Spain

Energy demand is steadily growing as society becomes more industrialised. Renewable energy sources (RES) have long been used for various applications by thermal energy systems in the European Union (EU). Biomass and solar energy represent important RES in the development of energy transition in some regions such as coal-mining areas of Europe. Bioenergy is a key renewable energy storage mechanism for solar energy which, when combined, can tackle many of the barriers to the use of solar energy. Against this background, this study evaluates the potential implementation of both biomass and solar energy for energy production in coal-mining areas in Spain as a direct alternative to coal. The shown methodology relies on a comprehensive analysis of existing resources and their conversion to thermal energy from a multi-parametric point of view. The obtained results show that the solar–biomass combination can be used for thermal energy systems as a challenging option. The theoretical total hybrid-modular systems if implemented in the study area are equivalent to 1165 MWth and supply thermal energy for 170,000 single-family houses.

Behavioral Assessment and Evaluation of Innovative Hollow Glue-Laminated Timber Elements

Due to the growing need to preserve our planet and reduce carbon emissions during construction, the use of the only carbon-absorbing material, timber, is increasingly being imposed. In addition to the requirement of reducing emissions, there is a necessity for the shortest possible construction time and the minimum use of construction machinery, which has led to the development of prefabricated construction systems. This paper deals with the innovative, hollow, glue-laminated timber elements which are intended for modular construction. Comparing this new system with existing modular systems, the main features and behavior of the constitutive elements, i.e., the hollow, glue-laminated timber elements, are presented. Experimental and numerical analysis of the mechanical performance of the timber elements was carried out and a comparative analysis of the behavior of two different types of hollow timber elements was conducted. The finite element method was used to predict the behavior of this innovative structural system. The results are compared with the analytical procedure to provide a background for the development of standardized methods for the design of timber structures.

Sequencing Batch Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge Membrane Process for Treatment of Tapioca Processing Wastewater

Tapioca processing industries are very popular in the rural community to produce a variety of foods as the end products. Due to their small scales and scattered locations, they require robust modular systems to operate at low capacity with minimum supervision. This study explores the application of a novel sequencing batch-integrated fixed-film activated sludge membrane (SB-IFASM) process to treat tapioca processing wastewater for reuse purposes. The SB-IFASM employed a gravity-driven system and utilizes biofilm to enhance biodegradation without requiring membrane cleaning. The SB-IFASM utilizes the biofilm as a secondary biodegradation stage to enhance the permeate quality applicable for reuse. A lab-scale SB-IFASM was developed, preliminarily assessed, and used to treat synthetic tapioca processing industry wastewater. The results of short-term filtration tests showed the significant impact of hydrostatic pressure on membrane compaction and instant cake layer formation. Increasing the pressure from 2.2 to 10 kPa lowered the permeability of clean water and activated sludge from 720 to 425 and from 110 to 50 L/m2·h bar, respectively. The unsteady-state operation of the SB-IFASM showed the prominent role of the bio-cake in removing the organics reaching the permeate quality suitable for reuse. High COD removals of 63–98% demonstrated the prominence contribution of the biofilm in enhancing biological performance and ultimate COD removals of >93% make it very attractive for application in small-scale tapioca processing industries. However, the biological ecosystem was unstable, as shown by foaming that deteriorated permeability and was detrimental to the organic removal. Further developments are still required, particularly to address the biological stability and low permeability.

Classification of Metaplectic Fusion Categories

In this paper, we study a family of fusion and modular systems realizing fusion categories Grothendieck equivalent to the representation category for so(2p+1)2. These categories describe non-abelian anyons dubbed ‘metaplectic anyons’. We obtain explicit expressions for all the F- and R-symbols. Based on these, we conjecture a classification for their monoidal equivalence classes from an analysis of their gauge invariants and define a function which gives us the number of classes.

Thermoelectric modular systems based on semiconductor elements of Peltier-Seebeck for vehicles

Elevations in technology of semiconductor materials allow for new vehicle systems use for improvement in the standard ones. One of the most promising materials for achieving an efficacy of more than 50% is polyaniline, which belongs to the class of conductive polymers that has semiconducting peculiarities. For instance, a new generation of semiconductor elements based on the Peltier-Seebeck effect makes it possible to use them to create thermoelectric generators, which means to use the thermal energy of the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines (ICE) to generate electrical power. The second area where Peltier-Seebeck semiconductor elements find application in automobiles are modular climate control systems. Due to the absence of moving parts and relatively small dimensions, they allow the creation of individual climatic zones in the car interior. An elegant design and technological solution is the placement of similar thermal semiconductor modules inside the driver’s and passenger’s seats, which makes it possible to transfer heat more efficiently and make climatic zones more apparent. The article considered engineering options for the design of climate control units based on Peltier elements and the creation of a prototype. The issues of integration into the vehicle on-board network and the features of power control are considered. The studies and results of this paper can contribute to improving the energy efficiency and technosphere safety of vehicles.

Alignment of safety and security risk assessments for modular production systems

In order to ensure the safety and security of industrial systems with regard to all life cycle phases from development through operation to disposal, specific regulatory and normative requirements are imposed. Due to the digitalization, interconnection, and constantly increasing complexity of manufacturing systems in the context of Industrie 4.0, the manual effort necessary to achieve the required safety and security is becoming ever greater and almost impossible to manage, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. Therefore, this paper examines the existing challenges in this area in more detail and gives an outlook on the possible solutions to ensure safety and security much quicker and with less manual effort. The overall vision is a (partially) automated risk assessment of modular systems with respect to safety and security, including the alignment of the corresponding processes from both domains and the formalization of the information models needed.

Wearable, Integrated EEG–fNIRS Technologies: A Review

There has been considerable interest in applying electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) simultaneously for multimodal assessment of brain function. EEG–fNIRS can provide a comprehensive picture of brain electrical and hemodynamic function and has been applied across various fields of brain science. The development of wearable, mechanically and electrically integrated EEG–fNIRS technology is a critical next step in the evolution of this field. A suitable system design could significantly increase the data/image quality, the wearability, patient/subject comfort, and capability for long-term monitoring. Here, we present a concise, yet comprehensive, review of the progress that has been made toward achieving a wearable, integrated EEG–fNIRS system. Significant marks of progress include the development of both discrete component-based and microchip-based EEG–fNIRS technologies; modular systems; miniaturized, lightweight form factors; wireless capabilities; and shared analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) architecture between fNIRS and EEG data acquisitions. In describing the attributes, advantages, and disadvantages of current technologies, this review aims to provide a roadmap toward the next generation of wearable, integrated EEG–fNIRS systems.