Spatial characterisation of multi-level in-use copper and zinc stocks in Australia

A methodology has been developed to characterise the in-use stocks of copper and zinc at a variety of spatial levels. The approach employs representative concentrations of copper and zinc in their main in-use reservoirs (which account for virtually all the metal put into service) together with geographic information system (GIS) data sets of the spatial locations and densities of these reservoirs. The authors have applied this methodology to Australia at four spatial levels: central city, urban region, states/territories, and country, to produce what is believed to be the first multi-level spatial characterisations of the in-use stocks of technological materials. The results are presented quantitatively and as a series of stock density maps for Inner Sydney, Sydney Metro, all Australian states/territories, and Australia itself. The total stocks in Australia are estimated at about 4.3 Tg Cu (4.3 thousand million kg) and 3.8 Tg Zn (3.8 thousand million kg), or about 240 kg Cu/capita and 205 kg Zn/capita. A statistical analysis of the data shows that the metal stock density at a given spatial level is largely determined by a small number of high-density components at the next lower level. The spatial analysis of the in-use stocks indicates that 50% of all copper and zinc stock resides in just 10% of Australia's local government areas. The largest stocks occur in large urban regions, which can contain copper and zinc densities more than a hundred times higher than rural areas. These regions are expected to be major Australian “metal mines” in the future.     

废铜熔化精炼过程烟尘治理系统设计

随着国民经济不断发展,铜加工原料的短缺问题日趋严重,因此,废铜回收再利用已成为弥补铜加工原料不足的重要措施。熔炼设备一般以反射炉(竖炉、精炼炉)为主,原料来源比较复杂,有边角料、废电缆电线等,所以,废铜熔化、精炼过程产生烟尘中,有CuCl、CuO、ZnO、SO2、HCl、氯化盐覆盖剂、二恶英、油脂及炉子燃烧不完全的产物CO等,必须进行净化处理。根据烟气原始参数,制定出合理的治理方案及工艺流程,使之达标排放。     

Life-cycle assessment of 11 kV electrical overhead lines and underground cables

The life-cycle impacts of five different 11 kV electrical power cables (three overhead lines and two underground cables) were analysed. These were compared by their embodied impacts in production and total lifetime operational impacts. The life-cycle results revealed there to be three key issues, the impacts of climate change, fossil fuel depletion, and particulate matter formation (PMF). The former two were of particular significance. The embodied impacts, which are those associated with the materials, were generally determined to be insignificant. The exception was for underground cables at low operating loads. Under these conditions PMF was more significant as a result of the high embodied impacts of the cables. Further analysis revealed that these impacts could be mitigated with an end of life material recovery program. At present the underground cables are not recovered, but if they were the recycling benefits would give rise to a notable improvement in PMF. For the other impact categories operational conductor losses were the dominant cause of impacts. In summary it was concluded that to minimise the life-cycle impacts of 11 kV cables the system with the lowest conductor resistance should be selected.     

Climate change adaptation,mitigation and livelihood benefits in coffee production: where are the synergies?

There are worldwide approximately 4.3 million coffee (Coffea arabica) producing smallholders generating a large share of tropical developing countries’ gross domestic product, notably in Central America. Their livelihoods and coffee production are facing major challenges due to projected climate change, requiring adaptation decisions that may range from changes in management practices to changes in crops or migration. Since management practices such as shade use and reforestation influence both climate vulnerability and carbon stocks in coffee, there may be synergies between climate change adaptation and mitigation that could make it advantageous to jointly pursue both objectives. In some cases, carbon accounting for mitigation actions might even be used to incentivize and subsidize adaptation actions. To assess potential synergies between climate change mitigation and adaptation in smallholder coffee production systems, we quantified (i) the potential of changes in coffee production and processing practices as well as other livelihood activities to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions, (ii) coffee farmers’ climate change vulnerability and need for adaptation, including the possibility of carbon markets subsidizing adaptation. We worked with smallholder organic coffee farmers in Northern Nicaragua, using workshops, interviews, farm visits and the Cool Farm Tool software to calculate greenhouse gas balances of coffee farms. From the 12 activities found to be relevant for adaptation, two showed strong and five showed modest synergies with mitigation. Afforestation of degraded areas with coffee agroforestry systems and boundary tree plantings resulted in the highest synergies between adaptation and mitigation. Financing possibilities for joint adaptation-mitigation activities could arise through carbon offsetting, carbon insetting, and carbon footprint reductions. Non-monetary benefits such as technical assistance and capacity building could be effective in promoting such synergies at low transaction costs.     

The impact of agroforestry combined with water harvesting on soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in central Chile evaluated using the ICBM/N model

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (N) stocks in an agroforestry system with water harvesting were analysed in a field experiment and the results compared with those of other crop management systems in the Mediterranean zone of central Chile. Agroforestry with water harvesting showed higher positive effects on N stocks, mainly in the upper soil layer, than the other crop management systems. However, soil analysis revealed a lack of differences between treatments, a fact that might be related mainly to the short study time (12 years) and the high spatial variability in these soil properties at the experimental site. In addition, the Introductory Carbon Balance Model that simulates N processes (ICBM/N) was evaluated for simulating trends in SOC and N stocks in the field experiment. Soil data collected between 1996 and 2008 in the field experiment and primarily literature data sets were used to test ICBM/N and its performance was evaluated by considering uncertainty in model inputs using Generalised Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) methodology. The GLUE estimates (5% and 95%) and measured SOC and N stocks were in satisfactory agreement. The observed SOC and N stocks were bracketed by the uncertainty bands in 70% and 80% of the simulations, respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed the model to be most sensitive to C parameters, such as the humification coefficient (h). The results of this study show that ICBM/N can be an effective tool for estimating SOC and N stocks from agroforestry combined with water harvesting systems in the Mediterranean zone of central Chile over the medium term. However, they also indicate that additional data sets are needed to redefine the parameter distributions in the model and thus to predict trends in SOC and N stocks in the future.     

基于中国电网结构及一线典型城市车辆出行特征的PHEV二氧化碳排放分析

中国电网火电比例的空间差异与插电式混合动力汽车（PHEV）驱动能源的二元性增加了研究PHEV二氧化碳排放的复杂性.使用上海市50辆PHEV汽车13万km的数据,研究了基于PHEV实际运行数据的二氧化碳排放评估方法,分析了PHEV纯电驱动里程比例及其影响因素,获得了纯电续驶里程、充电频率、电网构成对PHEV二氧化碳排放强度的影响,展望了2020年PHEV技术水平的二氧化碳减排效果.结果表明,我国一线城市PHEV乘用车出行主要集中在50 km以内的范围,占日常出行频次的70%;在2016年全国平均电网结构下,续驶里程超过50 km的PHEV比传统燃油车少排放15%以上的二氧化碳;在高比例可再生能源电网结构的地区,PHEV碳排放可降至100.0 g·km^-1以下,相比平均电网结构下碳排放水平降低幅度在28%以上;在2016年平均电网结构及技术水平下,纯电续驶里程增加（50~100 km）、充电频率增加（0.5~2次·d^-1）对碳排放的改善幅度不明显;与2016年相比,2020年PHEV燃油经济性和电耗水平的改善可降低32%的碳排放.     

中国燃煤电厂大气污染物排放的健康影响特征

基于全国高分辨率燃煤电厂排放数据库,利用全球-区域嵌套的大气化学伴随模式GEOS-Chem Adjoint,分析了全国各电网区域不同类型燃煤机组对PM_(2.5)污染相关健康影响的贡献.结果发现,2010年中国燃煤电厂大气污染物排放产生的PM_(2.5)污染导致10. 6万人(95%CI:6. 8~13. 2万人)过早死亡,占全国人为源PM_(2.5)污染相关过早死亡人数的9. 8%.其中,小型机组和老旧机组的健康损失强度(定义为单位发电量导致的过早死亡人数)显著高于大型机组和新建机组.装机容量小于100 MW机组的健康损失强度达到62人·(TW·h)~(-1),是装机容量600 MW以上机组的2. 8倍.类似地,投运年限超过30 a的老旧机组的健康损失强度为58人·(TW·h)~(-1),是投运年限5 a以内新机组的2. 1倍.在电网层面,华中电网的健康损失强度较大,达到77人·(TW·h)~(-1).进一步分析跨电网区域电力输送隐含的健康损失发现,2010年跨电网输电导致燃煤电厂健康损失较无跨电网输电情景增加过早死亡680人.本研究结果表明我国应当加快小型机组和老旧机组的淘汰步伐,降低燃煤电厂的污染健康影响,同时通过优化区域间输电结构,减少整体污染健康损失水平.     

Copper and zinc recycling in Australia: potential quantities and policy options

This paper presents relevant data for industry and governmental policy makers with the aim of increasing the recycling rate of end-of-life copper and zinc in Australia in a technically and economically feasible way. The methodology used to quantify and spatially distribute end-of-life flows of copper and zinc is based on existing and anticipated in-use stocks, their residence times, and their historical and anticipated future evolution. Australia currently (ca. 2000) generates about 72 Gg/year and 57 Gg/year of end-of-life copper and zinc, respectively. Some 70% of all discarded copper and 40% of all discarded zinc generated in Australia are currently being recycled. A detailed assessment shows that about 75% of all end-of-life material in Australia comes from the three states New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. In Australia, about 70–75% of waste copper and waste zinc is generated in urban areas. Residential applications account for about 40% (copper) and 60% (zinc) of the generated discards; commercial and industrial applications account for the remainder. By 2030, the discard flows are predicted to increase by about 105% and 155%, to 150 Gg Cu/year and 145 Gg Zn/year, providing substantially increased opportunities for recovery and re-use. Priority targets for the improvement of copper and zinc recycling in Australia are buildings under renovation, urban infrastructure, the transportation sector, and also consumer and business durables. Urban centres are particularly attractive locations for recycling facilities, especially in Perth and Adelaide.     

Co-production of heat and power: an anchor tenant of a regional industrial ecosystem

The resource basis of industrial energy production is still, to a large extent, in non-renewable fossil fuels, the use of which creates emissions that the ecosystem has difficulty in tolerating. The goal of industrial ecology is to substitute the non-renewable stocks with renewable flows. In this paper, a regional industrial ecosystem that relies on a power plant as its key organisation, as an anchor tenant, is considered in the context of energy production and consumption. The co-production method of heat and electricity (CHP, co-production of heat and power) is implemented in the local power plant. This method uses the waste energy from electricity production for district heat and industrial heat/steam. The fuel basis in a CHP plant can include heterogeneous waste fuels. The method has been applied, to a large extent, in only three countries in the world; Denmark, The Netherlands and Finland. Examples of CHP-based industrial ecosystems from Finland are considered. CHP is reflected upon from the viewpoint of industrial ecosystem principles.     

Seasonal changes in eicosanoid metabolism in the brown bear

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exert several important functions across organ systems. During winter, hibernators divert PUFAs from oxidation, retaining them in their tissues and membranes, to ensure proper body functions at low body temperature. PUFAs are also precursors of eicosanoids with pro- and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated seasonal changes in eicosanoid metabolism of free-ranging brown bears (Ursus arctos). By using a lipidomic approach, we assessed (1) levels of specific omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids involved in the eicosanoid cascade and (2) concentrations of eicosanoids in skeletal muscle and blood plasma of winter hibernating and summer active bears. We observed significant seasonal changes in the specific omega-3 and omega-6 precursors. We also found significant seasonal alterations of eicosanoid levels in both tissues. Concentrations of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, such as thromboxane B2, 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), and 15-HETE and 18-HETE, were significantly lower in muscle and/or plasma of hibernating bears compared to summer-active animals. Further, plasma and muscle levels of 5,6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET), as well as muscle concentration of 8,9-EET, tended to be lower in bears during winter hibernation vs. summer. We also found lower plasma levels of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids, such as 15dPGJ₂ and PGE₃, in bears during winter hibernation. Despite of the limited changes in omega-3 and omega-6 precursors, plasma and muscle concentrations of the products of all pathways decreased significantly, or remained unchanged, independent of their pro- or anti-inflammatory properties. These findings suggest that hibernation in bears is associated with a depressed state of the eicosanoid cascade.     

Estimating carbon in savanna ecosystems: rational distribution of effort

Minimising the cost of repeatedly estimating C (C) stocks is crucial to the financial viability of projects that seek to sell C credits. Depending on the price of C, this may imply less or more sampling effort than would be applied for science objectives. In systems with heterogeneous C pools, such as savannas, this translates into a variable-effort sampling strategy that maximises the marginal additional C that can be claimed per incremental unit of effort expended. Analysis of a savanna in north-eastern South Africa indicates relatively modest returns per hectare due to the small C quantities and low sequestration rates. Under these conditions, areas in excess of 1,000 ha and infrequent sampling frequencies of 5–10 years are required to make such projects financially viable. For such projects the sample variance, number of samples, cost per sample and establishment costs have negligible impacts on financial viability. It was also found that the soil-C pool contributes up to three times the net returns of the aboveground C pool and provides a strong argument to monitor soil C for certification and market trading. The financial viability estimates, however, do not include the management or opportunity costs incurred in changing the land use. The economies of scale identified in this study combined with the massive area covered by savannas indicate that these additional costs can be covered. Further research is recommended to quantify these costs and interrogate the feasibility of large scale (in excess of 10,000 ha) C-sink projects in savanna systems.     

An assessment of carbon stock for various land use system in Aravally mountains, Western India

Reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation in developing countries is of the central importance in efforts to combat climate change. A study was conducted to measure carbon stocks in various land-use systems including forms and reliably estimates the impact of land use on carbon (C) stocks in the forest of Rajasthan, western India (23°3′–30°12′N longitude and 69°30′–78°17′E). 22.8% of India is forested and 0.04% is the deforestation rate of India. In Indian forest sector of western India of Aravally mountain range covered large area of deciduous forest and it’s very helpful in carbon sequestration at global level. The carbon stocks of forest, plantation (reforestation) and agricultural land in aboveground, soil organic and fine root within forest were estimated through field data collection. Results revealed that the amount of total carbon stock of forests (533.64?±?37.54 Mg·ha^?1, simplified expression of Mg (carbon) ·ha^?1) was significantly greater (P?<?0.05) than the plantation (324.37?±?15.0 Mg·ha^?1) and the agricultural land (120.50?±?2.17 Mg·ha^?1). Soil organic carbon in the forests (172.84?±?3.78 Mg·ha^?1) was also significantly greater (P?<?0.05) than the plantation (153.20?±?7.48 Mg·ha^?1) and the agricultural land (108.71?±?1.68 Mg·ha^?1). The differences in carbon stocks across land-use types are the primary consequence of variations in the vegetation biomass and the soil organic matter. Fine root carbon was a small fraction of carbon stocks in all land-use types. Most of the soil organic carbon and fine root carbon content was found in the upper 30-cm layer and decreased with soil depth. The aboveground carbon (ABGC): soil organic carbon (SOC): fine root carbon ratios (FRC), was 8:4:1, 4:5:1, and 3:37:1 for the forest, plantation and agricultural land, respectively. These results indicate that a relatively large proportion of the C loss is due to forest conversion to agricultural land.     

纯电动汽车驱动电机全生命周期评价

基于生命周期评价(LCA)理论,运用Ga Bi 6软件建模,对荣威E50纯电动汽车驱动电机全生命周期环境排放和资源消耗进行了评价,对比分析在中国不同区域使用下驱动电机生命周期过程资源环境影响,并对驱动电机生命周期过程中的生产制造能耗、使用能耗和原材料回收率做敏感性分析.结果表明,驱动电机全生命周期过程各环境影响类型指数排序为APGWPPOCPEPODP,且对环境的影响主要发生在使用阶段,其次是原材料获取和制造阶段.各大区域电网下驱动电机全生命周期过程环境排放影响从大到小为华东电网东北电网西北电网华北电网南方电网华中电网.从敏感性分析结果可知,使用能耗对驱动电机生命周期环境排放影响的敏感度大于生产制造能耗;铜的回收率对矿产资源消耗影响的敏感度远大于钢和铝的回收率.     

Contribution to advances in waste-to-energy technologies

This paper presents a number of recent advances in technologies and improvements in units for the thermal processing of municipal solid waste (MSW) and various other types of waste. The focus is on the ‘waste-to-energy’ approach; various criteria for this approach are discussed, as well as the inconsistent attitudes about waste management approaches that are present in various countries in the European Union. The presented achievements include low-NO_x burners, improved efficiency, heat exchangers, waste heat recovery systems, newly developed equipment for wet scrubbing, dioxin filters and systems for the treatment of sewage sludge.A new concept for a regional Waste-to-Energy Centre (WTEC) is outlined, the design of which is based on a combination of experience, know-how and a sophisticated approach. The proposed WTEC will use up-to-date technologies and will provide an adequate response to the growing population and rising standards of living as well to increasingly stringent environmental regulatory standards.Utilization of computational methods such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for design optimisation and/or for troubleshooting is demonstrated with examples (flue gas duct, burner, combustion chamber). Several examples from industrial applications are summarized.     

土壤污染治理与开发的环境经济调控对策研究

尝试从环境经济角度出发,对比分析国内外土壤污染治理与开发过程中的经济责任认定体系,指出我国存在着土壤污染责任主体不明确、污染治理费用无人负担、市场化机制有待完善等问题,提出在土壤污染治理与开发过程中明确政府、污染者、新地块开发商以及当地社区和居民的经济责任、建立污染治理基金管理模式以及完善土壤污染治理资金筹措与管理机制等方面的调控对策。     

New CHP partnerships offering balancing of fluctuating renewable electricity productions

Combined heat and power (CHP) as well as intermittent renewable energy sources (RES) are key elements in future cleaner electricity production systems. This article presents solutions which will integrate fluctuating renewable electricity supplies, such as wind power, into electricity systems using small and medium-sized combined heat and power plants (CHP). Such solutions call for a new organisational setup of partnerships and software tools. The software tools will allow the new partnerships to offer services which are currently only offered by big power plants to electricity markets. The article presents recent results of the development and implementation of such partnerships and focuses on the methodologies and computer tools necessary in order to allow the partnerships to optimise their behaviour on the market. The use of such tools and methodologies makes groups of small CHP plants able to replace large power stations and, at the same time, allows for the integration of a higher share of RES in the electricity supply, resulting in a decrease in both fossil fuels and CO2 emissions.     

Battery powered electric vehicles charged via solar photovoltaic arrays developed for light agricultural duties in remote hilly areas in the Southern Mediterranean region

In the Southern Mediterranean region hilly and remote areas are afflicted with the high cost of diesel fuel, problematic supply, poor or non-existent grid connections and lack of maintenance technicians to service farm grid generation systems and machinery. A prototype Battery Powered Electric Vehicle (BPEV) charged using a solar photovoltaic array (10 kWp) was installed at a monastery situated at Achkout (Lebanon) with a total agricultural area of 50 ha, 10 ha of which was devoted to viticulture. The purpose of this was to investigate the potential for the cleaner production of power hence reducing the use of diesel fuels in agriculture. Data collected from the test site is presented and used to validate a numerical model. The numerical model was then used to extend the study further to the other countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea which have different levels of solar irradiance. Currently the average cost of diesel fuel within the EU is at an all-time high of 1.32 €/L. A life cycle costing determined that if the current trends in inflation in the EU continue and that fuel costs increase by 7.5% per annum, then battery powered electric vehicles charged using solar photovoltaics are economically viable in areas of high solar irradiance. The numerical model was then used to determine the outcome of using lithium titanate batteries instead of conventional lead-acid batteries. Adoption of the described system for a 10 ha vineyard would result in annual fuel saving of 4200–5200 L of diesel depending on which location in the Mediterranean area a system such as this is installed.     

Engineering and economic evaluation of gas recovery and utilization technologies at selected US mines

Methane liberated in underground coal mines is a severe safety hazard to miners. It is also a major contributor to the build-up of greenhouse gases in the global atmosphere. This report presents an engineering and economic evaluation of several methane recovery and end-use technologies which can remove, purify, and utilize methane from coal seams. The methane recovery technologies evaluated are widely applicable to US underground mines, and include conventional systems such as vertical extraction wells, gob area wells, horizontal boreholes, and cross-measure boreholes. More advanced and developmental technologies, such as the nitrogen injection process, have also been examined. Methane utilization technologies examined include the use of gas turbines for the generation of on-site power, compression and transport systems needed to sell the gas to a national distributor, and the generation of electrical power for off-site sale. The applicability and performance of each technology were assessed at nine representative coal mine sites, and the economic and emissions reduction performance between existing and alternative recovery operations were examined.     

白银冶炼厂工业废水治理及其利用

一、概述 白银有色金属公司第一冶炼厂,为我国早期建成的大型铜冶炼厂,同时生产硫酸等多种产品。厂内除冶炼外尚包括制酸、电解及综合利用车间。白银冶炼厂所排放的工业废水主要是含酸浓度较低的酸性废水及含酸浓度较高的污酸液。由工业废水中每年要排     

Utilization of Bagasse Energy in Thailand

Bagasse, a biomass fuel, is the waste generated by the sugar-making process from sugar cane. Sugar making is one of the most important agricultural-produce processing industries for developing countries in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa. As sugar producing plants need electric power and process steam, co-generation using bagasse as an alternate fuel for petroleum has been in use for some time. Thailand recently became one of the largest sugar exporters by enlarging plant capacities and improving equipment, thus reducing its production cost. In addition, the Thai government promotes power generation using bagasse as a means to combat global warming by raising the purchase price of the surplus power. The industry is in the process of further raising the plant capacity, and improving the power-generating efficiency. This will enable a plant to generate more electric power than its in-plant need so that the surplus power can be sold to the commercial grid. It also plans to become a local power supplier during off-season of sugar making by adding a condensing turbine generator. A typical Thai sugar plant of the latest design generates steam of 4Mpa at the bagasse boiler outlet with the temperature of 400°C at 84% boiler efficiency. With the bagasse LHV of 7,540 kJ/kg and that of fuel oil 41, 840 kJ/kg, and taking 90%as oil-burning boiler efficiency, 5.95 kg of bagasse would replace 1 kg of oil. The Kyoto Mechanism defines CO₂ generation by fuel oil as 2.65 kg per liter. Using 0.85for the specific gravity of fuel oil, the amount of CO₂ generation will be 3.12 kg-CO₂/kg. Therefore, CO₂reduction per ton of bagasse in terms of fuel oil will be: 3.12/5.95 =0.524 kg-CO₂/kg-bagasse. As 1 kg of bagasse generates 2 kg of steam, the CO₂reduction of a 100t/h steam boiler will be112,660 ton/year for an annual operation of4,300 hours, as follows. 0.524 × 100/2 = 26.2 t-CO₂/h, 26.2 × 4,300 =112,660 t-CO₂/year. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.