Exergetic, energetic, economic and environmental evaluation of concentrated solar power plants in Libya

The PhD project addresses the potential of using concentrating solar power (CSP) plants as a viable alternative energy producing system in Libya. Exergetic, energetic, economic and environmental analyses are carried out for a particular type of CSP plants. The study, although it aims a particular type of CSP plant – 50 MW parabolic trough-CSP plant, it is sufficiently general to be applied to other configurations. The novelty of the study, in addition to modeling and analyzing the selected configuration, lies in the use of a state-of-the-art exergetic analysis combined with the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The modeling and simulation of the plant is carried out in chapter three and they are conducted into two parts, namely: power cycle and solar field. The computer model developed for the analysis of the plant is based on algebraic equations describing the power cycle and the solar field. The model was solved using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software; and is designed to define the properties at each state point of the plant and then, sequentially, to determine energy, efficiency and irreversibility for each component. The developed model has the potential of using in the preliminary design of CSPs and, in particular, for the configuration of the solar field based on existing commercial plants. Moreover, it has the ability of analyzing the energetic, economic and environmental feasibility of using CSPs in different regions of the world, which is illustrated for the Libyan region in this study. The overall feasibility scenario is completed through an hourly analysis on an annual basis in chapter Four. This analysis allows the comparison of different systems and, eventually, a particular selection, and it includes both the economic and energetic components using the “greenius” software. The analysis also examined the impact of project financing and incentives on the cost of energy. The main technological finding of this analysis is higher performance and lower levelized cost of electricity (LCE) for Libya as compared to Southern Europe (Spain). Therefore, Libya has the potential of becoming attractive for the establishment of CSPs in its territory and, in this way, to facilitate the target of several European initiatives that aim to import electricity generated by renewable sources from North African and Middle East countries. The analysis is presented a brief review of the current cost of energy and the potential of reducing the cost from parabolic trough- CSP plant. Exergetic and environmental life cycle assessment analyses are conducted for the selected plant in chapter Five; the objectives are 1) to assess the environmental impact and cost, in terms of exergy of the life cycle of the plant; 2) to find out the points of weakness in terms of irreversibility of the process; and 3) to verify whether solar power plants can reduce environmental impact and the cost of electricity generation by comparing them with fossil fuel plants, in particular, Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) plant and oil thermal power plant. The analysis also targets a thermoeconomic analysis using the specific exergy costing (SPECO) method to evaluate the level of the cost caused by exergy destruction. The main technological findings are that the most important contribution impact lies with the solar field, which reports a value of 79%; and the materials with the vi highest impact are: steel (47%), molten salt (25%) and synthetic oil (21%). The “Human Health” damage category presents the highest impact (69%) followed by the “Resource” damage category (24%). In addition, the highest exergy demand is linked to the steel (47%); and there is a considerable exergetic demand related to the molten salt and synthetic oil with values of 25% and 19%, respectively. Finally, in the comparison with fossil fuel power plants (NGCC and Oil), the CSP plant presents the lowest environmental impact, while the worst environmental performance is reported to the oil power plant followed by NGCC plant. The solar field presents the largest value of cost rate, where the boiler is a component with the highest cost rate among the power cycle components. The thermal storage allows the CSP plants to overcome solar irradiation transients, to respond to electricity demand independent of weather conditions, and to extend electricity production beyond the availability of daylight. Numerical analysis of the thermal transient response of a thermocline storage tank is carried out for the charging phase. The system of equations describing the numerical model is solved by using time-implicit and space-backward finite differences and which encoded within the Matlab environment. The analysis presented the following findings: the predictions agree well with the experiments for the time evolution of the thermocline region, particularly for the regions away from the top-inlet. The deviations observed in the near-region of the inlet are most likely due to the high-level of turbulence in this region due to the localized level of mixing resulting; a simple analytical model to take into consideration this increased turbulence level was developed and it leads to some improvement of the predictions; this approach requires practically no additional computational effort and it relates the effective thermal diffusivity to the mean effective velocity of the fluid at each particular height of the system. Altogether the study indicates that the selected parabolic trough-CSP plant has the edge over alternative competing technologies for locations where DNI is high and where land usage is not an issue, such as the shoreline of Libya.

Diagnóstico ambiental y programa de control y seguimiento al sector curtiembres de barrio San Benito de la ciudad de Bogotá

Tesis (Maestria en Ingeniería).-- Universidad de La Salle. Facultad de Ingeniería. Maestría en Ingeniería, 2014

Padronização e flexibilidade: proposta de um edifício tipo para uma escola técnica profissionalizante

Nowadays the acquisition of sustainable elements and concepts in construction has been increasingly discussed, improved and incorporated to buildings, since the sector directly interferes in the urban space and environment, representing environmental impact. In order to make a sustainable building (Green Building) it is vital to incorporate less damaging constructive practice, starting from the project until the operation of the enterprise, that means to consider an integrated process of conception, implementation, construction and operation. The more effective sustainable principles participation in architecture happens at the projecting step through minimal environment impact solutions. Among the issues varieties that goes with sustainability proposal of the buildings project, there were added to this work the elements that are directly attached to bioclimatic architecture, more specifically the climate variation, ventilation, lighting and sunlight, that directly affect the project conception. It is important to put in evidence that architecture role goes far beyond the simple activity of building spaces; it is the sequence of political, economic, social and cultural elements, having the users as the main apparatus to its materialization. Thereby this professional dissertation consists of an architecture draft for a professional and technological school in the Rio Grande do Norte State, this dissertation is based on the analysis of previous experience and the bioclimatic principles that implicate in building on hot and dry, hot and humid climates, and the use of strategic solutions that aim the optimization of natural light and ventilation

Diversidade de macroalgas marinhas bentônicas dos recifes de Maracajaú, área de preservação ambiental dos recifes de corais, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Despite the importance of coral reefs to humanity, these environments have been threatened throughout the world. Several factors contribute to the degradation of these ecosystems. The Maracajaú Reef Complex, in Rio Grande do Norte state is part of the Coral Reefs Environment Preservation Area in northeastern Brazil. This area has been receiving an increasing influx of tourism and the integrity of the local reefs is a matter of concern. In this study, the reef macroalgae communities were studied and compared within two areas distinguished by the presence or absence of tourism activities. Two sample sites were chosen: the first one, where diving activities are intense; and the other, where these practices do not occur. Samples were collected at both sites within a quadrate of 625 cm2 of area randomly thrown 5 times along a 10 meters transect line. Richness, Shannon-Hill diversity and Simpson dominance indices were determined based on biomass data. Similarity between sites was analyzed with Bray-Curtis similarity and distance index. Fifty-eight macroalgae species were observed, including 7 Chlorophyta, 13 Phaeophyta and 38 Rhodophyta. In the non-disturbed site, 49 species were found, while at the disturbed site, there were 42 species. Dictyotaceae and Corallinaceae were the most representative families at the non-disturbed site, and Rhodomelaceae and Dictyotaceae at the disturbed site. The non-disturbed site presented a higher biomass and the greatest richness and diversity indices. In the disturbed site the dominance index was greater and Caulerpa racemosa was the dominant species. The dendogram based on similarity index showed two major clusters, and an isolated element at the center that corresponds to a sample from the disturbed site. In the first cluster, samples from the non-impacted site were predominant and fleshy brown algae were more conspicuous. The second cluster was composed primarily of samples from the impacted site, where C. racemosa and red filamentous and erect calcareous algae associations (turf forming) were observed covering large extensions. These associations are represented by groups of algae adapted to environments where disturbances are frequent. They can grow rapidly on substrate where benthic community was removed and do not allow the establishment of other species. The results of the present study show that tourism activity is an impacting factor that has been causing shifts in macroalgae communities in the Maracajaú Reef Complex

Definição dos padrões químicos e geológicos naturais do Paul de Arzila e da sua envolvente

A Reserva Natural do Paul de Arzila (Decreto Lei nº 219/88 de 27 de Junho) está integrada na Rede Europeia de Reservas Biogen ticas do Concelho da Europa desde 1990. A Reserva Natural do Paul de Arzila goza de um estatuto privilegiado pelo que o planeamento da área em questão está sujeito aos ditames do Concelho da Europa que garante o equilírio biológico e, consequentemente, a conservação da diversidade genética da Reserva. Impõe-se assim a necessidade de se proceder à definição dos padrões químicos e geológicos naturais não só da área da Reserva Natural do Paul de Arzila, mas também da sua envolvente. Inicialmente procedeu-se, a uma caracterização da área do Paul de Arzila referente à fisiografia, relevo, geologia, tectónica, unidades pedológicas e capacidade de uso do solo, recursos naturais, focos de poluição e seus impactos e caracterização sócio - económica. A caracterização geoquímica do Paul de Arzila foi estabelecida com base nos resultados das análises químicas efectuadas em amostras de solos, sedimentos de corrente e águas. Trata-se de um projecto que, a longo prazo, permitirá alargar a problemática da conservação ambiental e da diversidade gené tica das Reserva existentes ao nível do público local e nacional com a implementação de projectos de preservação e sensibilização ambiental.

Instrumentos de apoio à gestão ambiental

Slides de Apoio à disciplina de Instrumentos de Gestão Ambiental

Elaboración de una guía ambiental para el manejo limpio en el aprovechamiento energético de la biomasa residual

Bogotá (Colombia) : Universidad de La Salle. Facultad de Ingeniería. Programa de Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria

A Perceção das Práticas de Gestão de Recursos Humanos e o impacto no Desempenho dos Colaboradores

Investigações desenvolvidas têm tido como foco principal o estudo da relação positiva entre as PGRH e o desempenho das organizações. Menos ênfase tem sido dado à perceção dos colaboradores sobre a importância dessas mesmas práticas no seu desenvolvimento profissional e na progressão da respetiva carreira. Entendendo ser de interesse, pretende-se confirmar a tese de que uma boa perceção das PGRH será efetivamente um preditor da performance Organizacional/Pessoal, o que vem na linha de investigações realizadas nos últimos anos, que têm sido voltadas para a avaliação do impacto da estratégia e das PGRH sobre o desempenho dos colaboradores. Assim, o objetivo principal da investigação prende-se com a análise da relação existente entre a perceção das PGRH e o desempenho dos colaboradores, procurando perceber se existem PGRH que deverão ser recomendadas como o propósito de se alcançarem níveis mais elevados de desempenho por parte dos referidos colaboradores. A amostra do estudo compreende um total de 121 participantes, que correspondem a trabalhadores com Sede Profissional em Portugal. Os dados foram recolhidos através de um questionário on-line e tratados e analisados através do Programa SPSS Dos resultados obtidos, foi possível observar que os colaboradores percecionam as PGRH como um todo, que há associação entre as PGRH e o desempenho dos mesmos colaboradores, porém com a particularidade de não se ter registado a associação entre a Prática “remuneração” e o “desempenho”.

Desenvolvimento e caracterização de compósitos poli(tereftalato de etileno) reciclado (PET reciclado) com flocos de vidro.

The growing concern with the solid residues management, observed in the last decade, due to its huge amount and impact, has motivated the search for recycling processes, where these residues can be reprocessed to generate new products, enlarging the cycle of materials and energy which are present. Among the polymeric residues, there is poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET). PET is used in food packaging, preferably in the bottling of carbonated beverages. The reintegration of post-consumer PET in half can be considered a productive action mitigation of environmental impacts caused by these wastes and it is done through the preparation of several different products at the origin, i.e. food packaging, with recycling rates increasing to each year. This work focused on the development and characterization mechanical, thermal, thermo-mechanical, dynamic mechanical thermal and morphology of the pure recycled PET and recycled PET composites with glass flakes in the weight fraction of 5%, 10% and 20% processed in a single screw extruder, using the following analytical techniques: thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile, Izod impact, Rockwell hardness, Vicat softening temperature, melt flow rate, burn rate, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of thermal analysis and mechanical properties leading to a positive evaluation, because in the thermograms the addition of glass flakes showed increasing behavior in the initial temperatures of thermal decomposition and melting crystalline, Furthermore was observed growing behavior in the mechanical performance of polymer composites, whose morphological structure was observed by SEM, verifying a good distribution of glass flakes, showing difference orientation in the center and in the surface layer of test body of composites with 10 and 20% of glass flakes. The results of DMTA Tg values of the composites obtained from the peak of tan ä showed little reductions due to poor interfacial adhesion between PET and recycled glass flakes.

Avaliação de métodos de deteção de genótipos de cianobactérias produtoras de cianotoxinas em amostras ambientais

Dissertação de Mestrado, Biologia Molecular e Microbiana, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2016

A sustentabilidade ambiental das cidades sob a ótica da pegada de carbono e do sistema verde de Brasília

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, 2015.

Sustentabilidade ambiental e humana da produção de alimentos: uma análise comparativa entre agricultura biológica e convencional

A produção e o consumo de alimentos produzidos em agricultura biológica (AB) apoiam-se na ideia da sua superior qualidade nutricional e em supostos efeitos benéficos na saúde humana, bem como no menor impacto ambiental da AB relativamente à agricultura convencional (AC). Mas serão mesmo as dietas baseadas nestes alimentos significativamente mais saudáveis para as pessoas e o ambiente e, portanto, mais sustentáveis que as dietas baseadas no modo convencional? O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma síntese da informação publicada na última década referente a análises comparativas entre AB e AC, através de um conjunto de indicadores de qualidade ambiental e de saúde humana. Foram consultados diversos estudos, privilegiando aqueles que recorreram a um conjunto de indicadores de qualidade ambiental e de saúde humana. A nível ambiental, os estudos apontam para que, apesar das práticas biológicas terem, em geral, impactes menos negativos por unidade de área que as práticas convencionais, o mesmo não se verifica por unidade de produto. Os estudos sobre o impacto comparativo na biodiversidade mostram a tendência benéfica da AB, apesar de as diferenças se afigurarem pouco consistentes. A presença de resíduos de pesticidas e metais pesados em alimentos biológicos é significativamente menor que nos convencionais. A nível nutricional, os vegetais e frutas biológicos apresentam consistentemente conteúdos mais elevados em metabolitos secundários que os convencionais. Todavia, os estudos disponíveis sobre efeitos na saúde são pouco conclusivos quanto a diferenças consistentes entre modos de produção. Evidências científicas suportam a ideia geral de que a AB tende a constituir um modo de produção de alimentos ambiental e humanamente mais sustentável que a AC, embora as diferenças sejam consistentes apenas em alguns indicadores.

Influência da substituição de areia natural por pó de pedra no comportamento mecânico, microestrutural e eletroquímico de concretos

The construction industry is one of the largest consumers of natural raw materials, and concrete is considered today the most used material wide. This accentuated consumption of natural resources has generated concern with the preservation of the environment, and has motivated various studies related to the use of resid ues, which can partially or entirely substitute, with satisfactory performance, some materials such as the aggregate, and in so doing, decrease the impact on the environment caused by the produced residues. Research has been done to better understand and improve the microstructure of concrete, as well as to understand the mechanism of corrosion in reinforced steel. In this context, this work was developed aiming at discovering the influence of the substitution of natural sand by artificial sand, with rega rd to mechanical resistance, microstructure, and durability. To obtain the electrochemical parameters, an adaptation was made to the galvanostatic electrochemical method to study the corrosion in reinforced steel. Concretes of categories 20 MPa and 40 MPa were produced, containing natural sand, and concretes of the same categories were produced with artificial sand substituting the natural sand, and with the addition of sodium nitrate and sodium chloride. Due to the use of rock dust reject (artificial sand), an evaluation was made of its environmental risk. The results indicate that the concretes of category 20 MPa present a better performance than the concrete made with natural sand, thus making it a viable substitute. For the category 40 MPa, the better performance is from the concrete containing natural sand. The adaptation of the galvanostatic electrochemical technique to the study of the corrosion of reinforced steel within concrete proved to be valid for obtaining electrochemical parameters with a high degree of reliability, considering the number of degrees of freedom

Mudança do clima e os impactos na agricultura familiar no Norte e Nordeste do Brasil.

O ponto de partida deste estudo foi a consideração de cenários futuros da mudança do clima e as respectivas incertezas. As projeções globais disponíveis no Quinto Relatório de Avaliação do Painel Intergovernamental sobre Mudanças Climáticas (IPCC) - AR5 foram apresentadas e comparadas com cenários regionais (downscalling), desenvolvidos pelo Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). O foco deu-se em dois cenários principais do IPCC (RCP 4.5 e RCP 8.5) e também em dois principais modelos globais (MIROC e Hadley Centre) para os períodos de 2011-2040 e 2041-2070. O objetivo foi identificar as principais tendências em termos de mudanças na temperatura e na precipitação para as regiões Norte e Nordeste do Brasil ? mais especificamente nos biomas Amazônia, Semiárido e Cerrado ? escopo do estudo.

AGRIFIS - simulador de prospecção de cenários e avaliação de projetos de produção de sementes, óleo in natura e biodiesel de mamona.

Este trabalho propõe um modelo de prospecção de cenários e avaliação de projetos de atividades econômicas de produção agrícola de mamona caracterizada como agricultura familiar, extração de óleo vegetal in natura de sementes de mamona e produção de biodiesel (transesterificação), na forma de cadeia produtiva integrada. O modelo utiliza indicadores de avaliação econômico-flnanceiro, ambiental e social, como por exemplo, VPL, TIR, PBS, PBD, custo de produção, renda familiar, número de famílias assentadas e funcionários empregados, e outros, para identificar o desempenho de cada proposta de projeto. Para tanto, foi desenvolvido um ambiente computacional "AGRIFIS" para abrigar o modelo proposto nesse trabalho, que é uma ferramenta de apoio à tomada de decisão para investimentos em cadeia produtiva de mamona, pois se pode estimar o fluxo de caixa futuro de uma determinada proposta de projeto, incluindo as lucratividades, as despesas, a rentabilidade das famílias assentadas para determinadas condições pré-estabelecidas.