Geothermal waters are a source of clean energy. They should be used in a rational manner especially in energyand economic terms.
Key factors that determine the conditions in which geothermal waters are used, the amount of energy obtainedand the manner in which cooled water is utilised include water salinity. Elevated salinity levels and the presence oftoxic microelements may often lead to difficulties related to the utilisation of spent waters. Only a few Polishgeothermal facilities operate in a closed system, where the water is injected back into the formation after havingbeen used. Open (with water dumped into surface waterways or sewerage systems) or mixed (only part of the wateris re-injected into the formation via absorption wells while the rest is dumped into rivers) arrangements are morefrequently used. In certain circumstances, the use of desalinated geothermal water may constitute an alternativeenabling local needs for fresh water to be met (e.g. drinking water).
The assessment of the feasibility of implementing the water desalination process on an industrial scale islargely dependent on the method and possibility of disposing of, or utilising, the concentrate. Due to environmentalconsiderations, injecting the concentrate back into the formation is the preferable solution. The energy efficiency and economic analysis conducted demonstrated that the cost effectiveness of implementing the desalinationprocess in a geothermal system on an industrial scale largely depends on the factors related to its operation,including without limitation the amount of geothermal water extracted, water salinity, the absorption parameters ofthe wells used to inject water back into the formation, the scale of problems related to the disposal of cooled water,local demand for drinking and household water, etc. The decrease in the pressure required to inject water into theformation as well as the reduction in the stream of the water injected are among the key cost-effectiveness factors.Ensuring favourable desalinated water sale terms (price/quantity) is also a very important consideration owing tothe electrical power required to conduct the desalination process
At present, with the increase of production capacity and the promotion of production, the reserves
of most mining enterprises under the original industrial indexes are rapidly consumed, and the full
use of low-grade resources is getting more and more attention. If mining enterprises want to make
full use of low-grade resources simultaneously and obtain good economic benefits to strengthening
the analysis and management of costs is necessary. For metal underground mines, with the gradual
implementation of exploration and mining projects, capital investment and labor consumption are
dynamic and increase cumulatively in stages. Consequently, in the evaluation of ore value, we should
proceed from a series of processes such as: exploration, mining, processing and the smelting of
geological resources, and then study the resources increment in different stages of production and the
processing. To achieve a phased assessment of the ore value and fine evaluation of the cost, based on
the value chain theory and referring to the modeling method of computer integrated manufacturing
open system architecture (CIMOSA), the analysis framework of gold mining enterprise value chain is
established based on the value chain theory from the three dimensions of value-added activities, value
subjects and value carriers. A value chain model using ore flow as the carrying body is built based on
Petri nets. With the CPN Tools emulation tool, the cycle simulation of the model is carry out by the
colored Petri nets, which contain a hierarchical structure. Taking a large-scale gold mining enterprise
as an example, the value chain model is quantified to simulate the ore value formation, flow, transmission
and implementation process. By analyzing the results of the simulation, the ore value at different
production stages is evaluated dynamically, and the cost is similarly analyzed in stages, which can improve mining enterprise cost management, promote the application of computer modeling and
simulation technology in mine engineering, more accurately evaluate the economic feasibility of ore
utilization, and provide the basis for the value evaluation and effective utilization of low-grade ores.
In this article, a comparison of economic effectiveness of various heating systems dedicated to residential applications is presented: a natural gas-fueled micro-cogeneration (micro-combined heat and power – μCHP) unit based on a free-piston Stirling engine that generates additional electric energy; and three so-called classical heating systems based on: gas boiler, coal boiler, and a heat pump. Calculation includes covering the demand for electricity, which is purchased from the grid or produced in residential system. The presented analyses are partially based on an experimental investigation. The measurements of the heat pump system as well as those of the energy (electricity and heat) demand profiles in the analyzed building were conducted for a single-family house. The measurements of the μCHP unit were made using a laboratory stand prepared for simulating a variable heat demand. The overall efficiency of the μCHP was in the range of 88.6– 92.4%. The amounts of the produced/consumed energy (electricity, heat, and chemical energy of fuel) were determined. The consumption and the generation of electricity were settled on a daily basis. Operational costs of the heat pump system or coal boiler based heating system are lower comparing to the micro-cogeneration, however no support system for natural gas-based μCHP system is included.
Nano technology is an emerging field of interest for civil engineering application. Among the nano materials presently used in concrete, nano-silica possess more pozzolanic nature. It has the capability to react with the free lime during the cement hydration and forms additional C-S-H gel giving strength, impermeability and durability to concrete. Present paper investigates the effects of addition of nano silica in normal strength concrete. Three types of nano-silica in the form of nano suspension having different amount of silica content have been investigated. Mix design has been carried out by using particle packing method. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis has been carried out to find the chemical composition of control concrete and nano modified concrete. Further, experimental investigations have been carried out to characterize the mechanical behaviour in compression, tension and flexure. It has been observed that the addition of nano-silica in normal strength concrete increased the compressive strength and decreased the spilt tensile strength and flexural strength. Also, Rapid chloride permeability test (RCPT) has been conducted to know the chloride permeability of control concrete, nano modified concrete, and nano coated concrete. It has been observed that the chloride permeability is less for nano coated concrete.
This paper presents the optimal sizing of PV/Wind/Fuel Cell/Battery Hybrid Energy System for energizing a Small Scale Industrial Application or a village domestic load of 200 kW. HOMER software is used for simulation of the complete system. The solar radiation data and wind speed data used in this paper are for the place of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India which is located 11.0183° N longitude and 76.9725° E latitude. The optimized sizes of components of Hybrid Power System (HPS) are found based on Levelised Cost of Energy (LCE) and total Net Present Cost (NPC). The results are presented and compared for five different combinations of HPS components. Suggestions are also presented to choose the low cost system which produces energy at low LCE.