Search Results (16,120)

Nowadays, immersion cooling-based battery thermal management systems have demonstrated their effectiveness in controlling the temperature of lithium-ion batteries. While previous scientific research has primarily concentrated on traditional dielectric fluids such as mineral oil, the current research investigates the effectiveness of the dielectric fluid FC-40. A three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics model of an eight-cell 18650 battery system was constructed using ANSYS Fluent 19.2 to examine the effect of cooling fluids (air, mineral oil, and FC-40), velocity of flow (0.01 m/s to 0.15 m/s), discharge rate (1C to 5C), and inlet/outlet size (2.5 mm to 3.5 mm) on thermal efficiency as well as pressure drop. The findings indicate that employing FC-40 as the dielectric fluid significantly reduces the peak cell temperature, with an absolute decrease of 2.80 °C compared to mineral oil and 15.10 °C compared to air. Furthermore, FC-40 achieves the highest uniformity with minimal hotspot. On the other hand, as the fluid velocity increases, the maximum temperature of the battery drops, reaching a minimum of 26 °C at a velocity of 0.15 m/s. Otherwise, at lower flow velocities, the pressure drop remains minimal, thereby reducing the pumping power consumption. Additionally, increasing the inlet and outlet diameter of the fluid directly improves cooling uniformity. Consequently, the temperature dropped by up to 4.3%. Finally, the findings demonstrate that elevated discharge rates contribute to increased heat dissipation but adversely affect the efficiency of the thermal management system. This study provides critical knowledge for the enhancement of battery thermal management systems based on immersion cooling using FC-40 as a dielectric. Full article

Buildings in Indonesia’s tropical climate face significant barriers to energy efficiency due to high cooling loads and electricity intensity. Previous studies have primarily addressed technical optimization or policy frameworks, but few have provided an integrated and data-driven evaluation model for tropical conditions. This study develops an Internet of Things (IoT) and EDGE-based hybrid framework to support the transition toward Net-Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEBs) while maintaining occupant comfort. The research combines real-time IoT monitoring at the LLDIKTI Region XIII Office Building in Banda Aceh with simulation-based assessment using Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE). Baseline energy performance was established from architectural data, historical electricity use, and live monitoring of HVAC systems, lighting, temperature, humidity, and CO₂ concentration. Intervention scenarios—including building envelope enhancement, lighting optimization, and adaptive HVAC control—were simulated and validated against empirical data. Results demonstrate that integrating IoT-driven control with passive design measures achieves up to 31.49% reduction in energy use intensity, along with 24.7% improvement in water efficiency and 22.3% material resource savings. These findings enhance indoor environmental quality and enable adaptive responses to user behavior. The study concludes that the proposed IoT–EDGE framework offers a replicable and context-sensitive pathway for achieving net-zero energy operations in tropical office buildings, with quantifiable environmental benefits that support sustainable public facility management in Indonesia. Full article

An investigation was carried out to improve the gamma radiation shielding properties of Benecel K4M pharmaceutical polymer using zinc oxide (ZnO) at concentrations from 0 to 6 wt.%. Compressed composite tablet samples were prepared and tested in the range of photon energies 59.5 to 1332 keV for the assessment of various shielding parameters, including linear attenuation coefficient, radiation protection efficiency (RPE), and mean free path (MFP). As the ZnO content increased, the attenuation properties of the material showed improved shielding behavior, which was attributed to its high density and atomic number. At 59.9 keV, RPE increased from 6.9% for the pure polymer to 12.2% for the 6 wt.% composite, whereas MFP decreased from 13.9 cm to 7.6 cm. The results indicate that ZnO addition significantly enhances the shielding efficiency of Benecel K4M, demonstrating that ZnO can serve as a lightweight and non-toxic alternative to heavy-metal-based materials for pharmaceutical protection in radiation-rich environments. Full article

The lack of freshwater and the low efficiency of the traditional solar stills have led to the search to find a technology that can enhance desalination by use of vacuum-enhanced solar still technology. This review intends to investigate the impact of integrating a vacuum into solar stills, which include vacuum membrane distillation (VMD), nanoparticle-enhanced solar stills, multi-effect/tubular solar stills, geothermal integration and parabolic concentrator solar stills. The most important findings show that the productivity improves greatly: vacuum-assisted solar stills give up to 133.6% more product using Cu₂O nanoparticles, and multi-effect tubular stills under vacuum (40−60 kPa) show a doubling in freshwater productivity (7.15 kg/m²) in comparison to atmospheric operation. Geothermal cooling and vacuum pump systems show a 305% increase in productivity, and submerged VMD reached 5.9 to 11.1 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ with solar heating. Passive vacuum designs further reduce the energy used down to a specific cost, using as little as USD 0.0113/kg. Nevertheless, membrane fouling, initial cost, and the complexity of the system can still be termed as the challenges. This review highlights the significance of vacuum-enhanced solar stills to address the critical issue of freshwater scarcity in arid regions. The integration of vacuum membrane distillation, nanoparticle and heat recovery into vacuum-enhanced solar stills enabled us to improve the economic feasibility. We conclude that vacuum technologies significantly boost the efficiency and economic feasibility of solar desalination as a potential approach to sustainable desalination. Specifically, these inventions will contribute to providing a renewable and cost-effective solution for freshwater production. Further investigations are required to overcome the existing challenges, such as system complexity and membrane fouling, to effusively comprehend the efficacy of vacuum-enhanced solar stills to ensure sustainable water management. Full article

The study evaluated whether organic chromium supplementation in the diets of Jersey cows in the final third of lactation has positive effects on productive performance and milk quality, as well as markers of metabolism, hematology, immunological, and oxidative response. We used 22 cows in a 56-day study, divided into two groups: control (n = 11) and chromium treatment at 10 mg/kg of dry matter per day (n = 11). We evaluated these animals’ productive performance markers (milk production, feed intake, and lactation persistence), milk quality (composition and somatic cell counts), and blood biomarkers to assess animal health. Chromium concentration at the beginning of the experiment was within normal limits for the animal category (221 to 246 nM). The cows’ consumption of organic chromium increased its bioavailability in the body, with higher concentration in the serum (p = 0.01) and milk (p = 0.013) of Jersey cows compared to the control cows. Supplementing cows with chromium resulted in higher fat-corrected milk production (p = 0.05), longer lactation persistence (p = 0.05), and feed efficiency (p = 0.02) compared to the control group. There was a lower SCC (p = 0.01) on days 28, 42, and 56, as well as a higher percentage of fat in the milk of supplemented cows on days 28 and 42 compared to that of the control group (p = 0.01). As a treatment effect (p ≤ 0.05), we found cows supplemented with chromium had a higher concentration of insulin, immunoglobulin G, and creatine kinase activity dismutase compared to control animals. Considering the treatment × day interaction (p ≤ 0.05), we observed greater activity of the creatine kinase enzymes (days 14, 28, and 56), as well as lower cholinesterase activity (days 42 and 56) compared to those of the control. The concentration of globulins (p = 0.05) and immunoglobulin G (p = 0.01) on day 56 was higher in cows that consumed chromium. Higher superoxide dismutase activity on days 42 and 56 (p = 0.04) was observed in the blood of cows supplemented with organic chromium compared to that of the control. Therefore, we conclude that the addition of organic chromium was beneficial to maintaining lactation persistence and increasing fat-corrected milk production. Full article

The shift to sustainable mobility is especially challenging for island regions, where limited land, densely populated corridors, and strong reliance on fossil fuels constrain transport options. This study develops a macroscale methodology to estimate reductions in energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and traffic congestion by replacing fossil-fuel-based public and private road transport with an electric rail system supplied exclusively by dedicated renewable energy sources. Unlike conventional electrification, this approach guarantees genuine decarbonization by ensuring a fully renewable power supply for rail operations. Gran Canaria is employed as a case study, applying the methodology through an intermodal scenario that integrates the rail system with existing public transport services. Results show substantial potential to lower the carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency, and relieve congestion. The analysis focuses on the southeastern metropolitan corridor of the island, where transport demand, population, and economic activities are most concentrated. The proposed framework offers a transferable tool for supporting sustainable mobility strategies in island contexts consistent with global climate goals and policy priorities. Although the case study is specific to Gran Canaria, the methodology provides insights that may be relevant for other territories with comparable mobility and energy challenges, including isolated or weak-grid regions. Full article

Cu₂O solar cells are regarded as a promising emerging inorganic photovoltaic technology due to their power conversion efficiency (PCE) potential and material sustainability. While previous studies primarily focused on the band offset between n-type buffer layers and Cu₂O optical absorption, this work systematically investigated an ETL/buffer/p-Cu₂O/HTL heterojunction structure using SCAPS-1D simulations. Key design parameters, including bandgap (Eg) and electron affinity (χ) matching across layers, were optimized to minimize carrier transport barriers. Furthermore, the doping concentration and thickness of each functional layer (ETL: transparent conductive oxide; HTL: hole transport layer) were tailored to balance electron conductivity, parasitic absorption, and Auger recombination. Through this approach, a maximum PCE of 14.12% was achieved (V_oc = 1.51V, J_sc = 10.52 mA/cm², FF = 88.9%). The study also identified candidate materials for ETL (e.g., GaN, ZnO:Mg) and HTL (e.g., ZnTe, NiO_x), along with optimal thicknesses and doping ranges for the Cu₂O absorber. These findings provide critical guidance for advancing high-performance Cu₂O solar cells. Full article

Background/Objectives: The inherent low aqueous solubility of lipophilic drugs, belonging to Class II based on Biopharmaceutical classification system, negatively impacts their oral bioavailability. However, the manufacturing of pharmaceutical dosage forms for these drugs faces challenges related to environmental impact and production complexity. Herein, the surfactant-enriched cross-linked scaffold addresses the limitations of conventional approaches, such as the use of organic solvents, energy-intensive processing, and the demand for sophisticated equipment. Methods: Scaffold former (Pluronic F68) and scaffold trigger agent (propylene glycol) were used to prepare cross-linked scaffold loaded with candesartan cilexetil as a model for lipophilic drugs. Moreover, surfactants were selected based on the measured solubility to enhance formulation loading capacity. Design-Expert was used to study the impact of Tween 80, propylene glycol, and Pluronic F68 concentrations on the measured responses. In addition, in vitro dissolution study was implemented to investigate the drug release profile. The current approach was assessed against the limitations of conventional approach in terms of environmental and manufacturing feasibility. Results: The optimized formulation (59.27% Tween 80, 30% propylene glycol, 10.73% Pluronic F68) demonstrated a superior drug loading capacity (19.3 mg/g) and exhibited a solid-to-liquid phase transition at 35.5 °C. Moreover, it exhibited a rapid duration of solid-to-liquid transition within about 3 min. In vitro dissolution study revealed a remarkable enhancement in dissolution with 92.87% dissolution efficiency compared to 1.78% for the raw drug. Conclusions: Surfactant-enriched cross-linked scaffold reduced environmental impact by eliminating organic solvents usage and reducing energy consumption. Moreover, it offers significant manufacturing advantages through simplified production processing. Full article

This work is related to the development of a highly efficient pH-responsive ionic draw solute for forward osmosis applications utilizing microwave-assisted fast heating. This solute is classified as an ionic compound, a sodium salt originating from imidazole, with the scientific acronym 1-acetyl-2-methylbenzimidazole sodium bisulfate (AMBIM-Na). The synthesized compound was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), as well as additional physical characteristics. The baseline performance was initially evaluated at various molar concentrations against distilled water as the feed solution (FS). The results indicated that the produced solute exhibits elevated osmotic pressure, resulting in a water flux of up to 130 LMH for a 1 M concentration, coupled with the absence of reverse salt flux. The synthesized AMBIM-Na at a concentration of 1 M was utilized as a draw solution (DS) against synthetic brackish water. The water flux declined progressively with the increase in FS concentration, decreasing from 130 LMH with distilled water to 99, 70, and 41 LMH at NaCl concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 g/L, respectively. The regeneration of the draw solute was assessed using pH adjustment, revealing that 100% regeneration occurs by reducing the pH to 2. Full article

The ocean, as one of the largest thermal energy storage bodies on earth, has great potential as a thermal-electric energy reserve. Application of the relatively fixed-temperature ocean as the heat sink, and using concentrated solar energy as the heat source, one may construct a mobile power station on the ocean’s surface. However, a traditional solar-based heat source requires a large footprint to concentrate the light beam, resulting in bulky parabolic dishes, which are impractical under ocean engineering scenarios. For buoy-sized applications, the small form factor of the energy collector can only achieve limited temperature differential, and its energy quality is deemed to be unusable by traditional spring-loaded free piston Stirling engines. Facing these challenges, a low-temperature differential free piston Stirling engine is presented. The engine features a large displacer piston (ϕ136, 5 mm thick) made of corrugated board, and an aluminum power piston (ϕ10). Permanent magnets embedded in both pistons couple them through magnetic attraction rather than a mechanical spring. This magnetic “spring” delivers an inverse-exponential force–distance relation: weak attraction at large separations minimizes damping, while strong attraction at small separations efficiently transfers kinetic energy from the displacer to the power piston. Engine dynamics are captured by a lumped-parameter model implemented in Simulink, with key magnetic parameters extracted from finite-element analysis. Initial results have shown that the laboratory prototype can operate continuously across heater-to-cooler temperature differences of 58–84 K, sustaining flywheel speeds of 258–324 RPM. Full article

Building archetypes are essential for advancing architectural theory and energy modeling, providing a foundation for scalable assessments of building performance and sustainability worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, educational buildings, especially those in public universities, are predominantly constructed using standardized and repetitive design templates, such as courtyard and prototype models, which have significant implications for energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and sustainability outcomes. Despite their prevalence, there is a notable lack of systematic research on the classification and distribution of these archetypes within the Saudi context, particularly regarding their impact on energy consumption and sustainable campus planning. This study addresses this gap by systematically collecting and analyzing data from 29 public universities across Saudi Arabia, employing GIS mapping to document building characteristics including age, region, urban context, masterplan typology, and architectural design. A cumulative weighting factor was applied to quantify the representativeness of archetypes, while chi-square tests and effect size metrics assessed the statistical concentration and significance of observed patterns. The results reveal a pronounced dominance of a small number of archetypes, especially standardized courtyard and identical design models, across the national stock, with the top 10% of archetype ranks accounting for the majority of buildings. This high degree of standardization enables efficient modeling, benchmarking, and targeted energy interventions, while also highlighting the need for greater contextual adaptation in future campus planning. While this study does not directly simulate building energy performance, it establishes a national-scale typological foundation that can support future simulation, benchmarking, and policy design. The developed GIS-based framework primarily serves managerial and planning objectives, offering a standardized reference for facility management, retrofitting prioritization, and strategic energy-efficiency planning in Saudi public universities. Full article

This study investigates the adsorption behavior of natural sepiolite for the removal of cadmium (Cd²⁺), copper (Cu²⁺), and nickel (Ni²⁺) ions from aqueous solutions under batch conditions. The sepiolite was extensively characterized prior to adsorption experiments. Mineralogical analysis confirmed the presence of crystalline sepiolite, while DTG-TGA revealed thermal stability with distinct weight loss linked to surface and structural water. BET analysis indicated a high surface area of 194 m²/g and a mesoporous structure favorable for adsorption. Batch experiments evaluated the effects of contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial metal concentration. Adsorption was highly pH-dependent, with maximum removal near-neutral pH values. Higher adsorbent dosages reduced in a lower adsorption capacity per unit mass, primarily because the fixed amount of solute was distributed over a larger number of available sites, leading to unsaturation of the adsorbent surface and possible particle agglomeration. Isotherm modeling revealed that the Langmuir model provided the best fit, indicating monolayer adsorption with maximum adsorption capacities of 15.95 mg/g for Cd(II), 37.31 mg/g for Cu(II), and 17.83 mg/g for Ni(II). Langmuir constants indicated favorable interactions. Kinetics showed rapid adsorption within the first hour, reaching equilibrium at 240 min through surface adsorption and intraparticle diffusion. Cu(II) exhibited the fastest uptake, while Ni(II) adsorbed more slowly, suggesting differences in diffusion rates among the metal ions. Desorption using 0.1 N HCl achieved over 80% efficiency for all metals, confirming sepiolite reusability. Overall, raw sepiolite is an effective, low-cost adsorbent for removing potentially toxic elements from water. Full article

In this study, structural optimization and trap effect analysis of a 4H-SiC–based p–i–n betavoltaic (BV) cell were performed using Silvaco ATLAS TCAD (version 5.30.0.R) simulations combined with an electron-beam (e-beam) irradiation model. First, the optimum device structure was derived by varying the thickness of the intrinsic layer (i-layer), the thickness of the p-layer, and the doping concentration of the i-layer. Under 17 keV e-beam irradiation, the electron–hole pairs generated in the i-layer were effectively separated and transported by the internal electric field, thereby contributing to the short-circuit current density (J_SC), open-circuit voltage (V_OC), and maximum output power density (P_{out_max}). Subsequently, to investigate the effects of traps, donor- and acceptor-like traps were introduced either individually or simultaneously, and their densities were varied to evaluate the changes in device performance. The simulation results revealed that traps degraded the performance through charge capture and recombination, with acceptor-like traps exhibiting the most pronounced impact. In particular, acceptor-like traps in the i-layer significantly reduced V_OC from 2.47 V to 2.07 V and P_{out_max} from 3.08 μW/cm² to 2.28 μW/cm², demonstrating that the i-layer is the most sensitive region to performance degradation. These findings indicate that effective control of trap states within the i-layer is a critical factor for realizing high-efficiency and high-reliability SiC-based betavoltaic cells. Full article

This study investigated a novel method of recovering energy from iron ore sinter using solid iron oxide heat transfer materials. Traditionally, air is passed through the sinter either in an open conveyor or a sealed vessel to recover energy. The bed materials used were a magnetite concentrate, hematite ore, goethite–hematite ore and sinter fines. A shortwave thermal camera and quartz reactor were used measure infrared radiation from the process. The thermal imaging was combined with image analysis techniques to visualise the transfer of thermal energy through the system. The results showed that energy moved rapidly through the system with peak heating rates of 18 °C/min at a lump sinter temperature of 600 °C. The ratio of heating rate to cooling rate was as high as 8.6:1.0, indicating efficient retention of energy by the bed materials. The bed composition, determined by X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction was used to calculate the heat capacity based on pure material properties. The resultant energy balance determined thermal efficiency to be between 32 and 46% for the sinter fines and hematite–goethite ore, resulting in predicted fuel savings of up to 9.4kg/tonne with similar heat utilisations to the air recovery process. Thermal imaging combined with Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurements and scanning electron microscopy analysis experimentally replicated mathematical heat transfer model predictions that a smaller total pore volume resulted in less thermally resistive bed. Image analysis illustrated the breaking of the heat front between the less resistive solid and more resistive air in porous beds versus even conduction of heat through a dense bed. The oxide distribution in the bed materials impacted heat transfer, as at a lump temperature of 500 °C was controlled by hydrated oxide content whereas at 600 °C Fe₂O₃ was the more dominant driver. Full article

This study presents a novel approach to intensifying the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge through enzymatic pretreatment using hydrolytic enzymes—cellulase and lysozyme. It aims to determine how enzymatic activation affects the efficiency of methane fermentation, defined as the degree of organic matter decomposition and yield and composition of biogas. An experiment was carried out under mesophilic conditions over 20 days, analyzing the physicochemical properties of sludge, biogas production, methane content, and sanitary parameters. The addition of cellulase and lysozyme significantly enhanced process efficiency, increasing both the rate of organic matter degradation and biogas yield. The highest biogas production values (0.73 L·g⁻¹ d.m. for cellulase and 0.72 L·g⁻¹ d.m. for lysozyme) were obtained at a 4% (w/w) enzyme concentration, with a corresponding increase in the degree of organic matter decomposition to 78.7% and 80.0%, respectively. The produced biogas contained 58–61% methane, exceeding the values observed in the control sample, which indicates a positive effect of enzymatic activation on methane selectivity. Enhanced biogas production was attributed to improved hydrolysis of complex organic compounds, resulting in greater substrate bioavailability for methanogenic microorganisms. Moreover, methane fermentation led to the complete elimination of E. coli from all supernatants, confirming the hygienization potential of the process. The results of this study indicate that enzymatic pretreatment may serve as a viable strategy to improve both the energy efficiency and hygienic safety of anaerobic digestion processes, with relevance for future optimization and full-scale wastewater treatment applications. Full article