| 1. |
- Liu, Z., et al.
(author)
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Solar harvest : Enhancing carbon sequestration and energy efficiency in solar greenhouses with PVT and GSHP systems
- 2023
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In: Renewable energy. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 0960-1481 .- 1879-0682. ; 211, s. 112-125
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It is universally acknowledged that climate change brings widespread attention to solar greenhouse plant carbon sequestration. Suitable technologies in solar greenhouses were, are, and will be play a leading role in this vital transition. The primary aim of this research is to examine the energy efficiency and carbon sequestration potential of a solar-assisted ground-source heat pump (SAGSHP) heating system. This hybrid system, which integrates a horizontal ground-source heat pump (GSHP) system with PVT and heat storage, can efficiently fulfill the heating demands of a greenhouse and function as a positive energy building. Four plants include cucumber, tomato, cowpea, and lettuce were selected to compare the carbon absorption effects. Results show that the hybrid system outperforms conventional systems, with a coefficient of performance (COP) of 6.71 during peak hours and PVT efficiency over 57.88%, which effectively meet the heat load of the greenhouse and keep the indoor heat comfortable. In addition, for the carbon sequestration potential of four plants, tomato exhibited the highest photosynthetic carbon sequestration of 3522 kgCO2·m−2. Cowpea showed the strongest daily carbon sequestration capacity at 26.86 gCO2m−2d−1 and better economic income. Through the application of this enhanced solar greenhouse, people can enhance the utilization of solar energy, establish flexible interaction between energy and information flow, and make a promising option for sustainable building design.
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| 2. |
- Zhong, T., et al.
(author)
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Assessment of solar photovoltaic potentials on urban noise barriers using street-view imagery
- 2021
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In: Renewable energy. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 0960-1481 .- 1879-0682. ; 168, s. 181-194
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Solar energy captured by solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has great potential to meet the high demand for renewable energy sources in urban areas. A photovoltaic noise barrier (PVNB) system, which integrates a PV system with a noise barrier, is a promising source for harvesting solar energy to overcome the problem of having limited land available for solar panel installations. When estimating the solar PV potential at the city scale, it is difficult to identify sites for installing solar panels. A computational framework is proposed for estimating the solar PV potential of PVNB systems based on both existing and planned noise barrier sites. The proposed computational framework can identify suitable sites for installing photovoltaic panels. A deep learning-based method is used to detect existing noise barrier sites from massive street-view images. The planned noise barrier sites are identified with urban policies. Based on the existing and planned sites of noise barriers in Nanjing, the annual solar PV potentials in 2019 are 29,137 MW h and 113,052 MW h, respectively. The estimation results show that the potential PVNB systems based on the existing and planned noise barrier in 2019 have the potential installed capacity of 14.26 MW and 57.24 MW, with corresponding potential annual power generation of 4662 MW h and 18,088 MW h, respectively.
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| 3. |
- Li, Y., et al.
(author)
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Study on Environmental and Economic Benefits of Photovoltaic integration with Iron and Steel Plants in Hebei Province
- 2021
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In: Energy Proceedings. - : Scanditale AB.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Under the strategic goal of "peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality" in China, industries with high energy consumption and high pollution, such as iron and steel plants, are facing great pressure of energy conservation and emission reduction, and are in urgent need of green and low-carbon transformation. In this paper, 46 iron and steel plants in Hebei province are taken as examples. GIS spatial analysis and environmental emission list method are used to build a comprehensive evaluation model of rooftop photovoltaic, and to calculate the technical potential, energy saving and emission reduction benefits and economic feasibility of deploying rooftop photovoltaic in iron and steel plants. Finally, carbon trading mechanism is introduced to analyze its impact on the carbon trading market. It is found that 46 iron and steel plants save 216,700 tons of standard coal, reduce 144,700 tons of CO2 emissions and reduce 1,500 tons of SO2, NOX, PM and other air pollutants every year. The economic benefit of power generation self-use mode is greater than that of grid-fed mode, with an average return on investment of 140% and a payback period of 5.5 years. The results verify that rooftop photovoltaic in iron and steel plants has dual benefits of energy saving and emission reduction and economy, and this data can provide a feasible path for iron and steel plants to use photovoltaic for green and low-carbon transformation.
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| 4. |
- Shi, J., et al.
(author)
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Capacity Fading Characteristics of Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries Under Different Precooling Conditions
- 2023
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In: Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol. 1016. - : Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. - 9789819910267 ; , s. 1-9
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The capacity fading of lithium iron phosphate batteries is related to its internal temperature and the growth of solid electrolyte (SEI). It is an effective way by controlling its internal temperature to mitigate capacity fading. This paper discusses the impact of pre-cooling and resting time on capacity fading and the growth of SEI. Results showed that the battery capacity increased and the thickness of SEI decreased if the pre-cooling was employed. Compared to 25 °C of ambient temperature, the thickness of SEI under 5 °C of pre-cooling temperature decreased by 404 nm, 386 nm, and 502 nm for 2C, 3C, and 5C discharge rate, respectively. The internal temperature of battery could be better cooled and therefore capacity increased with the increase of resting time. At 15 °C of pre-cooling temperature, the capacity increased by 3.8% if the resting time increased from 600 s to 2400 s. Therefore, the pre-cooling method could effectively mitigate capacity fading. The conclusion obtained in this paper could provide guidance for battery thermal management.
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| 5. |
- Tang, R., et al.
(author)
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A literature review of Artificial Intelligence applications in railway systems
- 2022
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In: Transportation Research Part C. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 0968-090X .- 1879-2359. ; 140
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nowadays it is widely accepted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is significantly influencing a large number of domains, including railways. In this paper, we present a systematic literature review of the current state-of-the-art of AI in railway transport. In particular, we analysed and discussed papers from a holistic railway perspective, covering sub-domains such as maintenance and inspection, planning and management, safety and security, autonomous driving and control, revenue management, transport policy, and passenger mobility. This review makes an initial step towards shaping the role of AI in future railways and provides a summary of the current focuses of AI research connected to rail transport. We reviewed about 139 scientific papers covering the period from 2010 to December 2020. We found that the major research efforts have been put in AI for rail maintenance and inspection, while very limited or no research has been found on AI for rail transport policy and revenue management. The remaining sub-domains received mild to moderate attention. AI applications are promising and tend to act as a game-changer in tackling multiple railway challenges. However, at the moment, AI research in railways is still mostly at its early stages. Future research can be expected towards developing advanced combined AI applications (e.g. with optimization), using AI in decision making, dealing with uncertainty and tackling newly rising cybersecurity challenges.
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| 6. |
- Wang, K., et al.
(author)
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Amended soils with weathered coal exhibited greater resistance to aggregate breakdown than those with biochar : From the viewpoint of soil internal forces
- 2024
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In: Soil & Tillage Research. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 0167-1987 .- 1879-3444. ; 244
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Soil erosion is the first threat to soil functions. Reducing the soil aggregate breakdown strength is a key step to improve the soil's ability to resist rainfall splash erosion. Soil internal forces have been found to be the initial and important forces driving aggregate turnover. The application of exogenous organic materials can effectively improve soil aggregate stability and the resistance to rainfall erosion of agricultural soils. However, from the perspective of soil internal forces, information about the reduction effects of the exogenous organic materials application on soil aggregate breakdown is scarce, especially in comparing the effects of different materials. In this study, weathered coal and biochar were individually applied to loamy clay soil at rates of 0 %, 1 %, 2 %, and 3 % (w/w). Soil internal forces, aggregate breakdown strength, and splash erosion rate of different amended soils were then examined after four years. The results showed that compared with unamended soils (0 %), both weathered coal and biochar applications clearly increased the van der Waals attractive pressure and thus decreased the positive net pressure between soil particles. Additionally, these materials reduced soil aggregate breakdown strength and splash erosion rate. The application effects of the two materials were increased with their application rates. Under a lower electrolyte concentration in soil solution (0.0001 mol L−1), the aggregate breakdown strength in the soils amended with weathered coal was lower than that with biochar by 9.6 %, 23.2 %, and 17.7 % (when the diameter of broken aggregate was < 10 μm) and by 10.3 %, 20.8 %, and 17.5 % (when the diameter of broken aggregate was < 20 μm) at the 1 %, 2 %, and 3 % application rates, respectively (P < 0.05). Additionally, soils amended with weathered coal exhibited lower splash erosion rates compared to those amended with biochar, particularly at the higher application rate of 3 %. From the viewpoint of soil internal forces, weathered coal appears to be a suitable exogenous organic material for improving soil aggregate stability and anti-erosion ability during rainfall events. Our findings provide valuable insights into utilizing exogenous materials to improve soil resistance to rainfall splash erosion, assisting agricultural soil management in areas frequently affected by rainfall erosion.
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| 7. |
- Yu, X., et al.
(author)
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Intensification of biodiesel synthesis using metal foam reactors
- 2010
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In: Fuel. - : Elsevier BV. - 0016-2361 .- 1873-7153. ; 89:11, s. 3450-3456
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study presents a technology for continuous and high-efficiency alkali-catalyzed biodiesel synthesis using a metal foam reactor combined with a passive mixer. A metal foam reactor with higher pore density produces smaller droplets that result in higher efficiency of biodiesel synthesis. Compared with conventional stirred reactors, the time for high methyl ester conversion can be shortened remarkably by the use of metal foam reactors. Experimental results reveal that a metal foam reactor of 50 pores per inch exhibits an energy consumption per gram biodiesel of 1.01 J g-1, merely 1.69% and 0.77% of energy consumption of the zigzag micro-channel and conventional stirred reactors, respectively. Moreover, biodiesel yield per reactor for the metal foam reactor is approximately 60 times that of the zigzag micro-channel reactor, thus overcoming the problem of numbering up an excessive number of reactors in the application. These results indicate the great potential of metal foam reactors in small-fuel biodiesel processing plants for distributive applications.
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| 8. |
- Zhang, Kai, et al.
(author)
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Power generation assessment of photovoltaic noise barriers across 52 major Chinese cities
- 2024
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In: Applied Energy. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 0306-2619 .- 1872-9118. ; 361
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Photovoltaic noise barriers (PVNBs) have the potential to contribute to sustainable urban development by increasing the supply of renewable energy to cities while decreasing traffic noise pollution. However, estimating the power generation of PVNBs at the city or national scale remains a challenge due to the complexities of the urban environment and the difficulties associated with collecting data on road noise barriers (RNBs) and radiation. This study used RNBs, 2.5-dimensional (2.5D) buildings, and hourly time resolution radiation data, to estimate the power generation of PVNBs in 52 of China's major cities. First, hourly building shadows were estimated for each day of the year, covering the period from sunrise to sunset, to identify areas of RNB that are shaded at any given time. Second, hourly clear-sky radiation data were collected and corrected using a radiation correction model to simulate real weather radiation. Finally, utilizing an inclined surface radiation estimation model, the photovoltaic (PV) potential both inside and outside RNBs affected by building shadows was assessed. Subsequently, the power generation of PVNB was estimated based on parameters of mainstream PV systems in the market. The results show that the RNB mileage in 52 selected cities represents 87.7% of China's total RNB mileage. Building shadows often result in a radiation loss of approximately 30% for RNBs reception. The installed capacity and annual power generation of PVNBs in all investigated cities are 2.04 GW and 690.74 GWh, respectively. This study estimates the comprehensive PV potential of potentially exploitable PVNBs in China, offering essential scientific insights to inform and facilitate the strategic development of PVNB projects at both the national and municipal levels.
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| 9. |
- Zhang, X., et al.
(author)
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Greater mineral and aggregate protection for organic carbon in the soil amended by weathered coal than by biochar : Based on a 3-year field experiment
- 2023
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In: Geoderma. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 0016-7061 .- 1872-6259. ; 438
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Soil carbon pool stability plays an important role in reaching carbon neutrality and mitigating global warming. Applying soil amendments is a practical strategy in agricultural production to improve soil environment. Weathered coal (WC) is an organic amendment that can be used to improve soil quality. However, the effects of WC application on soil organic carbon pool stability, and its differences from the effects of biochar (BC, a common amendment) application remains unclear. In this study, BC was selected as a comparison to further evaluate the potential of WC based on a 3-year field experiment, in which WC and BC were individually applied into a loamy clay soil at 0%, 1%, and 3% (w/w) rates. Soil organic carbon and its fractions (including particulate organic carbon and mineral-bound organic carbon), soil aggregate fractions and its stability, and the organic carbon content in aggregates were examined. The results showed that both WC and BC significantly increased soil total organic carbon, particulate and mineral-bound organic carbon (P < 0.05). The mineral-bound organic carbon content in WC treatment was significantly higher than that in BC treatment (by 32% under the 3% rate) (P < 0.05), whereas, there were no significant differences in soil total organic carbon content. Both WC and BC increased the soil organic carbon content in all aggregate fractions. While only the WC improved the soil aggregate stability, and which was 15% (under 1% rate) and 28% (under 3% rate) higher in WC treatments than in BC treatments (P < 0.05). The proportion of mineral-bound organic carbon to soil total organic carbon content and the soil aggregate stability were obviously related the soil C/N, and the WC treatments had a higher proportion of mineral-bound organic carbon and soil aggregate stability than BC treatments under the same soil C/N. The results indicated that the application of WC may be more effective than BC in increasing mineral and aggregate protection for soil organic carbon and thus improving soil carbon pool stability. Additionally, the purchase cost of WC was clearly lower than that of BC. Combined with the low cost and the benefits in soil structure and carbon pool stability, the application of WC appeared to have advantages over BC. Our findings provide robust evidence that WC is more effective than BC in improving soil carbon pool stability.
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| 10. |
- Zhang, Z., et al.
(author)
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Carbon mitigation potential afforded by rooftop photovoltaic in China
- 2023
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In: Nature Communications. - : Nature Research. - 2041-1723. ; 14:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rooftop photovoltaics (RPVs) are crucial in achieving energy transition and climate goals, especially in cities with high building density and substantial energy consumption. Estimating RPV carbon mitigation potential at the city level of an entire large country is challenging given difficulties in assessing rooftop area. Here, using multi-source heterogeneous geospatial data and machine learning regression, we identify a total of 65,962 km2 rooftop area in 2020 for 354 Chinese cities, which represents 4 billion tons of carbon mitigation under ideal assumptions. Considering urban land expansion and power mix transformation, the potential remains at 3-4 billion tons in 2030, when China plans to reach its carbon peak. However, most cities have exploited less than 1% of their potential. We provide analysis of geographical endowment to better support future practice. Our study provides critical insights for targeted RPV development in China and can serve as a foundation for similar work in other countries.
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