Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy最新文献

In this experimental analysis, the impacts of altering the injection nozzle geometry on the performance parameters of a compression ignition (CI) engine were explored. The injection nozzle geometry of the standard engine with three holes of 0.24 mm diameter was replaced by a 6-hole injector having 0.20 mm diameter. The modified engine was tested by a blend of 20 volume per cent of jatropha biodiesel (JOME20) in diesel. Considering the small size of the injector orifice, the injection pressure was raised to 240 bar from the standard pressure, and the injection timing was adjusted to 21° before Top Dead Center (bTDC) from the normal. The test findings revealed that the modified engine showed an enhancement in “Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC)” and “Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE).” Notable improvements in the decrease of emissions have been observed. However, the enhanced fuel-air mixing and high combustion temperature increased the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions. The modification of the injection nozzle geometry showed improvements in BSFC, BTE, and a reduction in emissions, but with a trade-off of increased NOx emissions, highlighting the need for further optimization.

This study presents a sustainable approach to the production of lightweight ceramsite from industrial by-products, specifically tungsten tailings and fly ash. By integrating these materials with a foaming agent, we successfully synthesized ceramsite with reduced bulk density and improved strength, making it suitable for various applications such as construction. Through orthogonal experiments, we got the best ceramsite, which exhibited a compressive strength of 19.45 MPa, water absorption of 7.63%, and a bulk density of 0.925 g/cm³. Additionally, the incorporation of sawdust or stearic acid allowed for the adjustment of ceramsite density, producing a range of products with densities from 700 to 1000 kg/m³. The ceramsite complied with standards, exhibiting minimal heavy metal ion leaching. Crystal phase composition and mineral changes during sintering were analyzed, along with microstructure changes affecting ceramsite properties.

This study investigates the catalytic epoxidation of soybean oil utilizing a hybrid oxygen carrier through an in situ peroxy acids mechanism, aiming to optimize the process for enhanced relative conversion oxirane as lack of studies reported usage of hybrid oxygen carriers to date. As environmental concerns rise, the utilization of sustainable feedstocks like soybean oil presents a promising alternative to petroleum-based sources. Through systematic optimization, we identified the optimal conditions for achieving a maximum oxirane conversion of 54%. Key parameters included the use of sulfuric acid as a catalyst, a reaction temperature of 80°C, and a stirring speed of 400 rpm. This work not only underscores the potential of soybean oil as a valuable feedstock for producing epoxides but also highlights the advantages of using hybrid oxygen carriers to enhance reaction efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. Lastly, numerical simulations were executed employing a genetic algorithm in MATLAB R2023A, and the outcomes exhibited a good agreement between the simulated data and the empirical observations where R² was recorded as 0.92 with kinetic constants k₁₁ = 0.50 (M min)⁻¹, k₁₂ = 39.94 (M min)⁻¹, k₂ = 7.44 (M min)⁻¹, k₃ = 0.12 (M min)⁻¹.

Unaccounted-for Gas (UFG) in city gas distribution networks presents critical economic and environmental challenges. This review explores the causes, detection methods, and mitigation strategies of UFG. Key causes include measurement errors, leakage, theft, and unreported usage, all contributing to inefficiencies and higher costs for gas companies and consumers. Additionally, UFG exacerbates methane emissions, a potent contributor to climate change. Advanced detection technologies, such as metering infrastructure, leak detection systems, and data analytics, are examined for their effectiveness. The study also addresses regulatory frameworks and industry standards essential for UFG management. Mitigation strategies include enhanced pipeline maintenance, sophisticated monitoring systems, and theft prevention measures, alongside fostering transparency and accountability within the industry. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of UFG challenges and solutions, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to reduce its economic and environmental impacts, contributing to more sustainable city gas distribution networks.

This study explores the performance of a building integrated semitransparent photovoltaic system enhanced with movable insulations, a thermal mass, and a south-facing window focusing on its application in cold climatic conditions at a conceptual level. The system's electrical energy production, thermal gains, and daylight savings are assessed, with particular attention to the thermal conductivity, thickness, and configuration of movable insulations. A new daylight savings equation, integrating both roof and window contributions, showed a 72.66% improvement over previous approaches that neglected the contributions of the south-facing window. Comparative simulations revealed that applying movable insulation only during off-sunshine hours effectively prevents nighttime heat loss while avoiding daytime overheating. Additionally, optimizing the number of air changes from N = 1 to N = 5 reduced peak indoor temperatures from 40.88°C to 24.45°C, enhancing thermal comfort. The results confirm that decreasing U-values from 8.36 to 2.902 W/m²°C directly correlates with improved insulation performance, leading to greater energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

This study investigates the assessment of the water quality and microbial quality of the Nile River water within the Beni-Suef governorate in Egypt. Twenty water samples were collected seasonally from Autumn 2023 to Summer 2024. The findings showed a significant increase in nitrate, ammonium, and orthophosphate concentrations, especially in the vicinity of agricultural drainage points. Place, season, and inter-group interactions were attributed to the significant differences seen in the analysis of variance for all bacterial groups. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment-water quality index was used to assess each location's overall water quality. The majority of physicochemical characteristics were found to be within allowable bounds for irrigation, drinking water, and the protection of aquatic life. Extreme caution is advised in the Beni-Suef governorate's River Nile, even though the levels of water contamination are below WHO-acceptable thresholds. To preserve this essential water resource, recommendations include implementing sustainable agricultural practices, enforcing stronger regulations on polluting sources, and launching public awareness initiatives. These precautions include limiting the excessive use of organic fertilizers, establishing pollutant industries, and avoiding the use of wastewater and sewage sludge in agriculture.

The issue of industrial effluent has been a long-standing concern for researchers, particularly regarding effective and sustainable wastewater treatment methods. Among the potential solutions, photocatalysis has emerged as a promising approach. In this study, we present the green synthesis of selenium dioxide (SeO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) using the methanolic extract of Shuteria involucrata, a plant that has not previously been explored for this purpose. The novelty of this work lies in both the eco-friendly synthesis method and the dual functional evaluation of the resulting SeO₂ NPs for photocatalytic and nonlinear optical (NLO) applications. Structural and morphological analyses were conducted using XRD, HRTEM, FESEM, and EDS. BET results indicated a mesoporous structure, which is favorable for moderate adsorption. Optical characterization through UV-DRS revealed a narrow bandgap of 1.47 eV, contributing to a photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 32.7% for Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light in just 90 min—a notable performance for green-synthesized SeO₂. Furthermore, we investigated the NLO properties using the Z-scan technique under continuous wave laser excitation at 405 nm. The results indicated self-defocusing behavior and reverse saturable absorption (RSA) related to nonlinear coefficients. These findings suggest that green-synthesized SeO₂ NPs not only function as effective photocatalysts but also exhibit significant nonlinear optical behavior, making them suitable for multifunctional applications in both environmental and photonic fields.

This work aims at designing and developing a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) that can accommodate rural sustainability by utilizing locally accessible biomass resources, wind speeds, and solar radiation within concrete communities. An important consequence is that it will enable the best energy-generating arrangement to be recognized in order to further increase per capita energy availability (EPC) and the standard of life as a whole. The difficulties tackled in the research include which energy sources to choose and which optimization of the system component sizes to determine with the help of a hybrid optimization model where energy balances are based on priorities. System performance was analyzed with multi-objective Moth Swarm Optimization (MOMSA). The given HRES showed that the share of renewable energy in the system grew by 30% in comparison with the current system and the energy exported into the grid increased by 14%. Feasibility analysis also indicated great gains, such as a System Net Present Cost (NPC) of 53.8 million Indian rupees, a 35/kWh Cost of Energy (COE), maximum Renewable Resource Penetration (RRP), and minimum Power Loss Probability (PLP). These findings demonstrate the possibilities of the system to improve the energy sustainability of the rural areas and meet national energy delivery objectives.

The diffusion of solar energy systems in urban areas is often slow, especially in Southeast European countries, where social acceptance is critical. Unlike wind energy, there is less research on the social acceptance of solar energy, a form of energy with a high socio-political acceptance. This study explores the social acceptance of solar energy technologies by households in Istanbul, which accounts for 10% of Turkey's greenhouse gas emissions and aims to transition into a greener city. A social acceptance framework, rooted in psychological theories and existing literature, guided the study. The primary data on attitudes toward the acceptance of solar energy technologies, perceived behavioral control, social norms, and factors based on personal norms were collected in person from households. Multiple linear regression analysis identified significant predictors of the acceptability of solar energy systems. Social norms, perceived cost, perceived risk, perceived benefit, and climate change were significant predictors of social acceptance. Social norms had the highest positive impact and perceived cost had the highest negative impact on the social acceptance of solar energy technologies. Our findings suggest that while renewable energy policy should focus on the cost and macro-economic context, it should not ignore the importance of social norms.

Selecting optimal materials and construction methods is vital for sustainable infrastructure. This review explores how integrating Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), and Fuzzy Logic with Building Information Modeling (BIM) enhances decision-making in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)-based additive manufacturing. Unlike earlier reviews that treat BIM, Additive Manufacturing (AM), or MCDM separately, this work uniquely examines AI-augmented MCDM models driven by real-time BIM data, improving lifecycle assessment and sustainability. Recent case studies report material waste reductions of 30%–40%, surface quality improvements of 10%–30%, and labor cost savings of 15%–25% using these integrated approaches. We also discuss interoperability solutions like IFC-AM extensions and middleware that bridge BIM and AM tools. By comparing MCDM methods and highlighting empirical benefits, this review provides practical insights and outlines future research directions to advance digital, resource-efficient, and low-carbon construction.