Recommendations for Running a Tandem of Adsorption Chillers Connected in Series and Powered by Low-Temperature Heat from District Heating Network

In this paper, we investigate implications of running a cooling system of two silicagel/water adsorption chillers powered by a district heating network. The devices are connected in series, i.e., the heating water output from the primary chiller is directed to the secondary one. In consequence, the secondary device must deal with an even lower driving temperature and with temperature fluctuations caused by the primary device. We have evaluated three factors that influence the operation of those coupled devices: synchronization of their operating cycles, selection of their cycle time allocations (CTAs), and changing the heating water mass flow rate. Numerical analyses indicate that the performance of the secondary chiller drops significantly if the coupled devices that use the same CTA run asynchronously. The decrease is largest if the shift between the operating cycles is x=0.375 and x=0.875. We found that it is possible to reduce the negative influence of the asynchronous operation by implementing different CTA in each chiller. The best performance is achieved if the primary chiller uses an adsorption time to desorption time ratio f=1.0 and the secondary chiller uses f = 0.6–0.7.

Organized Crime and Firms' Financial Statements: Evidence from Criminal Investigations in Italy

We investigate how connections to organized crime manifest on firms' financial statements and analyze the impact of these connections on firm performance outcomes. Using a unique dataset that identifies Italian firms connected to organized crime, we find that connected firms have lower profitability, even though they report higher sales and lower labor cost. Connected firms also have higher bank debt, report lower cash holdings, experience quicker operating cycles, and are more likely to file for bankruptcy. Further, we find that connected firms are more tax aggressive and engage in downward earnings manipulation. To corroborate our results, we exploit an amendment to the Italian Anti-Money Laundering regulation as a shock to the extent to which criminal organizations could expropriate connected firms' resources through money laundering. Our collective evidence suggests that connections to organized crime can drain a firm's resources, possibly through money-laundering schemes, and jeopardize its existence, thereby harming its shareholders.

DYNAMICS AND OPERATING CYCLES OF VIBRATORY-PERCUSSIVE SYSTEMS INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTATION OF ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

The study discusses serviceability of pneumatic and hydraulic percussion machines within robotic drilling systems. The newly designed action charts of percussion machines allow varying flow data of the machines versus properties of the medium being treated, which enables technological adaptability of the machines. Simulation modeling of the operating cycle dynamics in ITI SimulationX made it possible to determine dynamic parameters of vibratory-percussive systems. The research findings prove designability of such machines.

Comparison of the ENDF/B-VII.0, ENDF/B-VII.1, ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3 Libraries for the Nuclear Design Calculations of the NPP Krško with the CORD-2 System

Recently, two new nuclear reaction data evaluations have been released: ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3. Since the neutron nuclear data profoundly influence predictions of the nuclear systems behavior, many researchers have been investigating new data striving for more accurate predictions. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of the neutron data libraries on the nuclear design calculations of the NPP Krško core. ENDF/B-VII.0, ENDF/B-VII.1, ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3 libraries are considered. In the first part of the paper the effect on the depletion of the typical NPP Krško fuel assembly in infinite geometry is investigated. In the second part, analysis of all 30 completed NPP Krško operating cycles is performed. Performed analysis has indicated differences of a few hundred pcm in multiplication factor for a fresh fuel due to differences in 235U cross sections. For a burned fuel assemblies, differences are even higher due to different rate of fission products formation, 235U burnout and Pu production. Observed differences in libraries resulted in differences of several tens of ppm in critical Boron concentration on the core level. Differences in control rods worth and Boron coefficients were inside 1 %. Some differences in isothermal temperature coefficient were observed, however they only marginally affect core power defect going from zero to full power.

HR-outsourcing in Natural resources sector

The article analyzes HR outsourcing market in the Natural resource sector. This industry is profitable, but it is characterized by a lack of staff due to the educational drop of the 1990s - 2000s and the number of young specialists in this sector has not still been restored. The rapid technological development of the Natural resource sector requires constant training of staff, which is hampered by many factors: long operating cycles of deposits without changing technologies, natural outflow of experienced employees due to aging, remoteness of locations, and a pandemic. The research underlines that today recruitment agencies are not able to satisfy the search and selection service for the Natural resource sector. The observed general trend of HR outsourcing towards process management and personnel training is relevant in the Natural resource sector even more than in other industries, especially in the area of personnel training. Thus, there is a certain process of transformation of the education system in this industry. It requires new models of training young personnel and retraining the existing personnel, probably using lifetime learning technologies.

Model of microprocessor centrifugal equipment for honey extraction

The paper presents a model of centrifugal equipment for extracting honey made around an ATmega 328 processor, with which the Arduino Uno module is equipped. The created model is functional, being tested, and the practical results obtained would allow the transition to prototype equipment. The created model is flexible, allowing to obtain flexible operating cycles, with variable speeds, soft settable, in both directions of rotation. The number of frames from which the bee honey can be extracted is variable depending on the juicer itself, which is driven by the motor