Direct Economic Inputs from Internationally Funded Science Projects to the Abaco Islands, The Bahamas

International expenditures for scientific research are important for small island developing nations, especially for those local communities that directly support research activities. We used the Abaco Islands, The Bahamas, as a case study to quantify the direct monetary inputs to a local economy via internationally-funded scientific research. We found that over two years the external monetary influx was $995,310, via 24 research teams, that was spent across diverse business sectors on Abaco. A direct survey approach ensured this was a conservative estimate, leaving out numerous indirect economic impacts, thereby suggesting the actual monetary infusion was significantly higher. The highest expenditures were for services (e.g., local salaries and boat guides), lodging, food/drink, and major equipment (e.g., vehicles). In addition to the research-based contributions that give rise to conservation and management decision-making, scientific activity brings benefits through the injection of money into local island economies. This relationship warrants study at larger regional scales, including across The Bahamas archipelago.

Demonstration and Optimization of Floor Height of 220kV GIS Room in the Indoor Substation

With the development of cities, the construction of indoor substations and the use of gas insulated switchgear (GIS equipment) are becoming more and more widespread. In this paper, the height of 220kVGIS room in the indoor substation is demonstrated and optimized. On the basis of the collection and analysis of the basic data of each major equipment manufacturer, the height of GIS room is analysed from the expansion, maintenance needs and pressure test, which are two limiting factors. Finally, the optimal height of 220kVGIS room is determined.

Economic Modelling for Self-c=Consumption of Roof-Top Photovoltaic Systems in Spain

This article has been developed to assess the economic feasibility of a roof-top photovoltaic installation of industrial self-consumption. Numerical models that enable an interested person to obtain the main expected parameters will be generated. To do this, a calculation methodology will be generated through which the reader, knowing the location of the facility and dimensions of the roof, will be able to calculate the maximum installable power, the main parameters related to production, the cost of the installation, and the LCOE of the plant. The use of actual costs will be facilitated in case they are known, but it will remain possible to apply the costs of the major equipment (modules, inverter, and structure) considered throughout the article. This developed calculation methodology will also allow a quick comparison of the forecasts of production, CAPEX, and LCOE of plants designed with different inclinations and different types of modules. Consequently, it will be especially useful for decision-making before developing the plant's basic engineering. Moreover, the calculations used for modeling the LCOE will be analyzed in depth. This analysis will allow evaluating how the different technical variables affect the profitability of a photovoltaic installation, such as the selected tilt, the location, the module's technology, or the available area.

Use of local fuel-produced syngas for iron ore pelletizing

Iron ore pellets are important sources of iron for steel manufacturing. A high temperature process of induration finalizes pelletizing and typically consumes vast amounts of heat. While local resources can include iron ore, there can be a lack of local natural gas normally used for ore processing. A solution is use of abundant local fuel-produced syngas. We have performed this research based on mathematical modeling. A possibility of use of local coal-produced syngas for iron ore pelletizing has been proven what means creating a novel way for active and cost-efficient local ore pellet manufacturing. Gasification of induration machines does not require major equipment renovation. We have also analyzed major benefits and risks of this new technology.

Defence Expenditures of Nato Member States in the Times of Covid and the New Us Administration: Selected Observations

NATO member states have been steadily increasing their levels of defence expenditures since 2015. In 2020, already ten member states met the NATO financial guidelines of spending at least 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) for defence, including 20% for major equipment. In addition, many other countries were planning to achieve this target by 2024. There are two factors, however, which could slow down this process. First, economic recession as a follow up to COVID-19 will have a negative influence on the state budgets. Defence spending could start decreasing in nominal terms, followed by the challenges in meeting NATO financial guidelines. Second, while President Donald Trump put the Alliance's burden-sharing in the centre of his policy vis-à-vis European allies, the current US administration, represented by the Democratic Party, will put more emphasis on multilateral cooperation as well as soft security instruments, including development and diplomacy. In consequence, even if the White House is going to stand strongly with 2/20% rule, it might lessen the pressure on European allies, especially Germany, to significantly accelerate defence spending, seeing transatlantic relationship in a broader division of risks and responsibilities. In this article, it is suggested that due to the economic crisis of the 2020s and the shift in the policy of the US Government, NATO member states would slow down, in short and mid-term perspectives, the process of increasing defence expenditures.

Mine Consortium Blockchain: The Application Research of Coal Mine Safety Production Based on Blockchain

To solve the problem that the safety data in the process of coal mine production are easy to be maliciously tampered with and deleted, a mine consortium blockchain data security monitoring system is proposed. The coal mine consortium blockchain includes supervision department, builds favourable centralized and decentralized production mode, and improves PBFT (Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance) consensus mechanism to implement practical coal mine safety production. The evaluation shows that the architecture we proposed is more appropriate and efficient for the mine Internet of Things than the traditional blockchain architecture. The Hyperledger Fabric platform is used to build the mine consortium blockchain system to achieve the sensor data reliability, node consensus, safe operation automation management, and major equipment traceability.

The STEP 10 MWe sCO2 Pilot Demonstration Status Update

The Gas Technology Institute (GTI®), Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) and General Electric Global Research (GEGR) are executing the “STEP” [Supercritical Transformational Electric Power] project, to design, construct, commission, and operate an integrated and reconfigurable 10 MWe sCO2 [supercritical CO2] pilot plant test facility. The $122* million project is funded $84 million by the US DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL Award Number DE-FE0028979) and $38* million (*including building investment) by the team members, component suppliers and others interested in sCO2 technology. This paper provides an update on the project’s progress. The pilot facility is currently under construction at SwRI’s San Antonio, Texas, USA campus. Now well into Phase 2, a ground-breaking was held in October of 2018, and civil work and the construction of a dedicated 22,000 ft2 building is complete. Most major equipment is in fabrication or delivered to site. Efforts have already provided valuable project learnings for technology commercialization. This project is a significant step toward sCO2 cycle based power generation commercialization and is informing the performance, operability, and scale-up to commercial plants.

Probabilistic Flood Assessment Methodology for Nuclear Power Plants Considering Extreme Rainfall

Abnormal weather conditions due to climate change are currently increasing on both global and local scales. It is therefore important to ensure the safety of the areas where major national facilities are located by analyzing risk quantitatively and re-evaluating the existing major facilities, such as nuclear power plants, considering the load and capacity of extreme flood conditions. In this study, a risk analysis method is developed that combines flood hazard curves with fragility curves using hydraulic and hydrological models by GIS tools and the @RISK model for the probabilistic flood analysis of nuclear power plant sites. A two-dimensional (2D) analysis is first carried out to estimate flood depths in various watershed scenarios, and a representative hazard curve for both external and internal flooding is made by applying a verified probability distribution type for the flood watersheds. For the analysis of flooding within buildings, an internal grid is constructed using GIS with related design drawings, and based on the flood depth results of the 2D analysis, a hazard curve for the representative internal inundation using a verified probability distribution type is presented. In the present study, walkdowns with nuclear experts are conducted around the nuclear power plant area to evaluate the fragile structures and facilities under possible flooding. After reviewing the 2D inundation analysis results based on the selected major equipment and facilities, the zones requiring risk assessment are re-assigned. A fragility curve applying probability distribution for the site’s major equipment and facilities is also presented. Failure risk analysis of the major facilities is then conducted by combining the proposed hazard and fragility curves. Results in the form of quantitative values are obtained, and the indicators for risks as well as the reliability and optimal measures to support decision-making are also presented. Through this study, it is confirmed that risk assessment based on the proposed probabilistic flood analysis technique is possible for flood events occurring at nuclear power plant sites.

Research on Localization of Serpentine Tube High Pressure Heater

It could be seen that the ultra supercritical reheating is a high-end technology in the field of power equipment manufacturing, which represents the strength and design level of national major equipment manufacturing industry. Based on the development of key components technology of millions of secondary reheat units, solving the design and manufacturing problems of serpentine high-pressure heater, optimizing the heat exchange efficiency of serpentine high-pressure heater, and improving the operation reliability, will help to promote the development process of China’s high-end power equipment, and provide important technical support for the quality supervision and management of serpentine high-pressure heater.