Higher shares of intermittent renewable energy in energy systems have raised the issue of the need for different energy storage solutions. The utilization of existing thermal building mass for ...storage is a cost-efficient solution. In order to investigate its potential, a detailed building simulation model was coupled with a linear optimization model of the energy system. Different building archetypes were modelled in detail, and their potential preheating and subsequent heat supply cut-off periods were assessed. Energy system optimization focused on the impact of thermal mass for storage on the energy supply of district heating. Results showed that longer preheating time increased the possible duration of cut-off events. System optimization showed that the thermal mass for storage was used as intra-day storage. Flexible load accounted for 5.5%–7.7% of the total district heating demand. Furthermore, thermal mass for storage enabled more solar thermal heating energy to be effectively utilized in the system. One of the sensitivity analyses showed that the large-scale pit thermal energy storage and thermal mass for storage are complimentary. The cut-off duration potential, which did not compromise thermal comfort, was longer in the newer, better insulated buildings, reaching 6 h among different building archetypes.
•The potential of utilizing building thermal mass for storage was investigated.•A dynamic building model was coupled with a linear optimization energy model.•Houses built after the 1980s had the highest potential for thermal mass utilization.•Thermal mass for storage enabled more solar thermal heating energy effectively utilized.•Large-scale pit thermal energy storage and thermal mass for storage were complimentary.
The unsustainable growth in global transport activity is straining planet's resources and ecosystems. Hence, there is a need to promote technological developments, regulatory instruments and social ...changes to reduce the impact of mobility demand on energy use and environment. The current paper aims at assessing the impact and effectiveness of transport policy measures in reaching emission reduction targets for the case of the integrated energy and transport system of Denmark. Our analysis of policy scenarios is performed in collaboration with experts, stakeholders and citizens, and facilitated by a newly developed Scenario Interface tool linked to the energy system model TIMES-DK. Market signals, in the form of taxes on CO2 and fossil fuels, retain the highest impact in lowering the carbon emissions from the transport sector, while the promotion of Mobility-as-a-Service is the most cost-effective measure among those analysed. Finally, we discuss the implications of combining instruments into policy packages and emphasise the urgency of addressing technology and policy solutions for the maritime and aviation sectors.
•Impact and effectiveness of transport and energy policies are investigated.•Participatory scenario development facilitated by Scenario Interface tool.•Analysis of policy interaction in the optimization model TIMES-DK.
Elderly nursing home residents are vulnerable to infection from micro-organisms. Hand hygiene is considered one of the most important measures to prevent transmission.
To determine the effect of ...increased accessibility to alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) in nursing home wards by monitoring hand hygiene compliance (HHC) among healthcare workers (HCWs).
An 11-month intervention study was conducted in a Danish six-ward nursing home. Data were collected using an automatic hand hygiene monitoring system (AHHMS). After a baseline period, one extra ABHR dispenser was placed in each of the 150 apartments. Baseline HHC was compared with the HHC during an immediate intervention period and a long-term intervention period.
A total of 159 HCWs were included. The AHHMS registered 341,078 hand hygiene opportunities. Overall baseline HHC was 31% (95% confidence interval: 30–32). A significant +18% absolute immediate effect (first five months) (95% CI: 17–19; P < 0.0001) and +13 percentage points (95% CI: 11–14; P < 0.0001) long-term effect (another four months) were recorded. HCWs working day shifts and short-term employees had a higher baseline HHC than HCWs working evening/night shifts. However, HCWs working night shifts achieved the greatest long-term effect with a mean +27 percentage point difference (P < 0.0001).
Placing an additional ABHR dispenser strategically within staff workflow significantly increased HHC among HCWs, demonstrating a noteworthy effect. The study is the first to report the effect on nursing home dispenser accessibility as a single intervention and to show a significant unmet potential.
•Optimizing waste treatment by incorporating LCA methodology.•Applying different objectives (minimizing costs or GHG emissions).•Prioritizing multiple objectives given different weights.•Optimum ...depends on objective and assumed displaced electricity production.
This article presents the new systems engineering optimization model, OptiWaste, which incorporates a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and captures important characteristics of waste management systems. As part of the optimization, the model identifies the most attractive waste management options. The model renders it possible to apply different optimization objectives such as minimizing costs or greenhouse gas emissions or to prioritize several objectives given different weights. A simple illustrative case is analysed, covering alternative treatments of one tonne of residual household waste: incineration of the full amount or sorting out organic waste for biogas production for either combined heat and power generation or as fuel in vehicles. The case study illustrates that the optimal solution depends on the objective and assumptions regarding the background system – illustrated with different assumptions regarding displaced electricity production. The article shows that it is feasible to combine LCA methodology with optimization. Furthermore, it highlights the need for including the integrated waste and energy system into the model.
The growing reservations against the use of any kind of chlorine source in pyrotechnic items revolutionize the predominantly empirical development of strobe formulations in two ways. First, a ...conventionally applied ammonium perchlorate oxidizer needs to be replaced. Second, visible light emissions should no longer be generated by metastable monochloride species. Moreover, until now, toxic substances such as potassium dichromate have been added in order to achieve a more pronounced strobe effect. This work evaluates the potential of stearic acid-treated ceric ammonium nitrate to serve as an oxidizing agent in next-generation strobe compositions. For this purpose, its microscopic structure, energetic properties, and stability under ambient conditions were assessed. A two-component mixture with a magnesium–aluminum alloy was investigated, which should allow for the introduction of copper-based colorants. This potentially paves the way for the first environmentally friendly blue strobe formulations.
•Review of main optimization tools in the field of waste management.•Different optimization methods are applied.•Different fractions are analyzed.•There is focus on different parameters in different ...geographical regions.•More research is needed which encompasses both recycling and energy solutions.
Strategic and operational decisions in waste management, in particular with respect to investments in new treatment facilities, are needed due to a number of factors, including continuously increasing amounts of waste, political demands for efficient utilization of waste resources, and the decommissioning of existing waste treatment facilities. Optimization models can assist in ensuring that these investment strategies are economically feasible.
Various economic optimization models for waste treatment have been developed which focus on different parameters. Models focusing on transport are one example, but models focusing on energy production have also been developed, as well as models which take into account a plant’s economies of scale, environmental impact, material recovery and social costs. Finally, models combining different criteria for the selection of waste treatment methods in multi-criteria analysis have been developed.
A thorough updated review of the existing models is presented, and the main challenges and crucial parameters that need to be taken into account when assessing the economic performance of waste treatment alternatives are identified. The review article will assist both policy-makers and model-developers involved in assessing the economic performance of waste treatment alternatives.
Summary
Remote ischaemic preconditioning reduces the risk of myocardial injury within 4 days of hip fracture surgery. We aimed to investigate the effect of remote ischaemic preconditioning on the ...incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events 1 year after hip fracture surgery. We performed a phase‐2, multicentre, randomised, observer‐blinded, clinical trial between February 2015 and September 2017. We studied patients aged ≥ 45 years with a hip fracture and a minimum of one cardiovascular risk factor. Patients were allocated randomly to remote ischaemic preconditioning applied just before surgery or no treatment (control group). Remote ischaemic preconditioning was performed on the upper arm with a tourniquet in four cycles of 5 min ischaemia and 5 min reperfusion. Primary outcome was the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events within 1 year of surgery. A total of 316 patients were allocated randomly to the remote ischaemic preconditioning group and 309 patients to the control group. Major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 43 patients (13.6%) in the remote ischaemic preconditioning group compared with 51 patients (16.5%) in the control group (adjusted hazard ratio (95%CI) 0.83 (0.55–1.25); p = 0.37). Fewer patients in the remote ischaemic preconditioning group had a myocardial infarction (11 (3.5%) vs. 22 (7.1%); hazard ratio (95%CI) 0.48 (CI 0.23–1.00); p = 0.04). Remote ischaemic preconditioning did not reduce the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events within 1 year of hip fracture surgery. The effect of remote ischaemic preconditioning on clinical cardiovascular outcomes in non‐cardiac surgery needs confirmation in appropriately powered randomised clinical trials.
Strontium‐based red pyrotechnic colorants have fallen into disrepute due to the harmful influence of this alkaline earth metal on adolescents. In this context, the energetic character, safety, and ...combustion to benign nitrogen gas of nitropyrazoles are used for the design of the corresponding lithiated materials, which are investigated as potential replacements in the current work. For this purpose, the lithium salts of 3,4‐dinitro‐1H‐pyrazole, 3,5‐dinitro‐1H‐pyrazole, 4‐amino‐3,5‐dinitro‐1H‐pyrazole, 3,4,5‐trinitro‐1H‐pyrazole, and 4‐hydroxy‐3,5‐dinitro‐1H‐pyrazole were extensively characterized by standard analytical methods, low‐temperature single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, studies of the thermo‐chemical behavior, and sensitivity assessments. Our assumption that the high nitrogen contents and the low oxygen balances of these compounds would adjust a cool, reductive flame atmosphere essential for red emissions by lithium was put to the test.
The lithium salts of polynitropyrazoles were evaluated for their suitability as red pyrotechnic colorants. While lithium 3,4‐dinitropyrazolate and lithium 3,4,5‐trinitropyrazolate are hygroscopic, lithium 3,5‐dinitropyrazolate and lithium 4‐oxo‐3,5‐dinitropyrazolate respond to ignition stimuli. The 4‐amino‐3,5‐dinitropyrazole analogue, which is the most insensitive compound in this row, was applied in a flare formulation producing orange‐red light with a dominant wavelength of 599 nm.
•Approach for use of scenarios dealing with both waste management and energy issues.•Overall scenarios for the common project and sub-scenarios in parts of the project.•Combining different types of ...scenarios to the tools of different disciplines.•Use of explorative external scenarios based on marginals for consequential LCA.
Development and use of scenarios for large interdisciplinary projects is a complicated task. This article provides practical examples of how it has been carried out in two projects addressing waste management and energy issues respectively. Based on experiences from the two projects, recommendations are made for an approach concerning development of scenarios in projects dealing with both waste management and energy issues. Recommendations are given to develop and use overall scenarios for the project and leave room for sub-scenarios in parts of the project. Combining different types of scenarios is recommended, too, in order to adapt to the methods and tools of different disciplines, such as developing predictive scenarios with general equilibrium tools and analysing explorative scenarios with energy system analysis tools. Furthermore, as marginals identified in differing future background systems determine the outcomes of consequential life cycle assessments (LCAs), it is considered advisable to develop and use explorative external scenarios based on possible marginals as a framework for consequential LCAs. This approach is illustrated using an on-going Danish research project.
Affected energy production is often decisive for the outcome of consequential life-cycle assessments when comparing the potential environmental impact of products or services. Affected energy ...production is however difficult to determine. In this article the future long-term affected energy production is identified by use of energy system analysis. The focus is on different uses of waste for energy production. The Waste-to-Energy technologies analysed include co-combustion of coal and waste, anaerobic digestion and thermal gasification. The analysis is based on optimization of both investments and production of electricity, district heating and bio-fuel in a future possible energy system in 2025 in the countries of the Northern European electricity market (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Germany). Scenarios with different CO
2 quota costs are analysed. It is demonstrated that the waste incineration continues to treat the largest amount of waste. Investments in new waste incineration capacity may, however, be superseded by investments in new Waste-to-Energy technologies, particularly those utilising sorted fractions such as organic waste and refuse derived fuel. The changed use of waste proves to always affect a combination of technologies. What is affected varies among the different Waste-to-Energy technologies and is furthermore dependent on the CO
2 quota costs and on the geographical scope. The necessity for investments in flexibility measures varies with the different technologies such as storage of heat and waste as well as expansion of district heating networks. Finally, inflexible technologies such as nuclear power plants are shown to be affected.
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