Abstract

The main influencing parameter on the efficiency of adsorptive thermochemical energy storage is the efficiency of the desorption process, which is influenced by the process conditions, for example, desorption time and desorption temperature, and the working pair (adsorbent–adsorbate). Due to constrained process requirements, for example, hours of sun shine and low desorption temperatures available from a flat plate solar collector (333–373 K), the only possibility to increase the efficiency is to change the working pair. The reference working pair water–zeolite 13X needs high desorption temperatures of 500 K and high heat inputs per mass adsorbent (1080 kJ kg−1) in the desorption process to reach the maximum efficiency of 79 % and maximum energy density of 844 kJ kg−1. Therefore, the goal is to reach efficiencies in the same range as the maximum efficiency of water–zeolite 13X for desorption temperatures lower than 500 K with the usage of different adsorbates. Four systems of alcohol as adsorbate on activated carbon are compared with the reference working pair. The usage of alcohols on activated carbon allows for highly efficient adsorptive storage even at low desorption temperatures between 360 and 450 K. The maximum efficiency is shifted to higher desorption temperatures with increasing carbon chain length of the alcohol. At low desorption temperatures, the energy density and efficiency of methanol, ethanol, and propanol are higher than the energy density of the reference system. Hence, the alcohol systems on activated carbon are viable alternative approaches for regulating these process parameters.

Abstract

Since the last century, we have witnessed a steady evolution of advertising techniques in an effort to adapt to the new social context in the market. As a strategic resource, Neuroscience brings a new perspective by allowing you to explore those difficult or verbally unconscious motives behind consumer behaviours. The present work aims to discover the relationship between the emotions induced in audiovisual advertising messages and their impact on the memory of the subjects. To achieve this goal, an experiment was carried out with eight audiovisual advertising messages (six representatives of the basic emotions: joy, surprise, anger, disgust, fear and sadness, and two rational ones that show the technical specifications of the product). Neuromarketing techniques such as the electrical activity of the heart (ECG) and the electrodermal activity (EDA) of the subjects are used, on one hand; and, on the other, a conventional research technique, a questionnaire applied to the subjects that participated in the research. The results show variations in the measures performed in the commercials corresponding to joy, surprise and anger, while for both, remembrance of the message transmitted and activity of the advertiser, the commercial with the best results has been the one regarding sadness, advertisement that has also been considered the most attractive for participating subjects.

Abstract

Low and medium solar heating systems used for domestic and industrial applications, such as water and space heating, usually utilize solar flat plate collectors in order to absorb solar thermal energy converting it into heat and then transferring the heat to a fluid (usually water or air) that flows through it. The aim of this study is to evaluate the solar flat plate collector’s efficiency and the fluid behavior inside the pipeline with three different cross sections, whose hydraulic diameters are 10, 5.12 and 6.16 mm, by using ANSYS Fluent. The results obtained from the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool showed that the collector with the Type I cross section reached temperatures up to 330 K at the pipe outlet obtaining an efficiency of 68 %, higher than those of Types II and III, whose efficiencies were 51 % and 60 %, respectively. Type I cross section also presented the lowest values in both speed and pressure drop, these being 0.266 m/s and 108.3 Pa, respectively.

Abstract

"jats:p" Seaport efficiency and productivity are the critical factors for handling of goods in the international supply chains and plays an important role in trade exchange with other countries. It is important to evaluate efficiency and productivity of seaports to reflect their status and reveal their position in competitive environment. The main purpose of this article is to use Data Envelopment Analysis and Malmquist Productivity Index to measure the technical efficiency and total factor productivity of container ports. DEA analysis enables one to assess how efficiently a seaports uses the available inputs to generate a set of outputs relative to other units in the data set. This article presents the use CCR and BCC DEA model, to determine overall technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency of container ports. The analysis gives a possibility to create a efficiency ranking of seaports. The study also applies the Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI), which was used to analyze changes in seaports productivity. The study indicated that technological progress had a greater impact on the change in productivity of container ports than changes in technical efficiency. Document type: Article

Abstract

INDOT has utilized many new technologies to reduce travel delay, mitigate traffic congestion, and enhance public and employees’ safety. Many projects are underway, including re-timing of most existing traffic signals and pavement maintenance and rehabilitation. To evaluate signal system performance, prioritize alternatives of improvement, conduct before and after studies and investigate work zone safety, it requires a large amount of traffic data such as travel time, speed and delay. Issues, such as safety, efficiency and cost, may arise associated with the current methods. For the current manual or automatic data collection, it usually requires two operators, a driver and a recorder. The current methods also require much time for data processing and the resulting data files may not be reusable. With the global positioning system (GPS) technologies, it appears that traffic data collection can be performed more safely and efficiently. The objective of this study is to investigate use of the GPS technologies to improve efficiency of INDOT traffic data collection, to enhance field operation safety, and to reduce potential human errors. Primary emphasis is given to utilization of GPS receivers to acquire traffic data so as to generate a reusable data file. This kind of data files is essential for providing INDOT traffic engineers with consistent information for assessing the performance of signal systems. Secondary emphasis is given to use of the GPS data in specific transportation studies, such as travel time and delay studies, work zone studies, and congestion management. In this study, the GPS techniques were examined and the Trimble AgGPS 132 devices were tested using the precisely known geographic points. A computer program, GPS-Trek, was developed for data collection and data processing. A huge amount of data was collected over the selected routes. Based on the results of analysis and field tests, a summary of the major findings are presented below: The proposed GPS data collection system is inexpensive and cost-effective. It can improve the efficiency of traffic data collection, save manpower and enhance field operation safety. The AgGPS 132 receiver can provide traffic data of high accuracy and consistency. The field data may exhibit gaps in “deep” urban canyons. However, through interpolation and proper data screening these disadvantages may be limited. The removal of Selective Availability from the GPS signals further improves the accuracy of GPS data. It was shown that the relative positional accuracy using a DGPS service is well below the 0.5 meter level. The GPS-Trek consists of two components, one for data collection and the other for data processing. The program is free of personal interpretation during data collection and provides a consistent system of analysis. The resulting data files are reusable. The data file can be easily exported to Microsoft® Excel, allowing traffic engineers to utilize their own experience and judgment for data analysis and specific transportation studies. A modified equation is presented to estimate the sample size requirements for field data collection using GPS devices. It was shown that in the filed tests, the modified equation produced a realistic estimate of the minimum sample size. Generally, a minimum of three initial test runs should be performed. If possible, five initial test runs for 90% confidence or six for 95% confidence are required to reduce the potential errors. The proposed system can be readily used for various transportation studies. This system bases its procedures on the existing INDOT highway digital map, resulting in a great saving in terms of manpower and time for creating a high resolution base map. The system also allows us to mark any critical points during data collection or data processing. As a result, it is possible for us to provide graphical reports, such as vehicle trajectory and speed profile that are required in the Manual of Transportation Engineering Studies and get a full picture of traveling situation on the test route. Also, this system can be used for measuring congestion on a system level.

Abstract

In order to be "competitive" as a railway, operating efficiency counts as an important imperative. In the context of railway carriage interior planning this is often made subordinate to other substantial aspects such as for example, expediency. This leads in practice to the opposite wished for result. Misunderstood operating efficiency concepts such as a maximal utilization of space for seating can in reality lead to a decline in operating efficiency, operational problems and in incidents to serious safety risks.

Abstract

bility of pricing changes in the transport sector : how to reconcile efficiency and equity ? – This paper elaborates an analytical framework of the acceptability of pricing changes in the transport sector. This framework is built on the confrontation of the economic efficiency, territorial equity, horizontal equity, and vertical equity dimensions. This analytical framework is then applied to some ongoing urban and suburban road toll schemes in various countries. The analysis shows that these efficiency and equity dimensions combine themselves, by most often reinforcing the ones the others in their negative or positive aspects. This analysis also shows that these various dimensions of equity cannot be ignored on pain of failure. It enables us to identify the ways according to which the acceptability of urban road pricing could be improved. Un cadre d'analyse de l'acceptabilité des changements tarifaires dans le secteur des transports est élaboré. Ce cadre analytique est bâti sur la confrontation des dimensions de l'efficacité économique, de l'équité territoriale, de l'équité horizontale et de l'équité verticale. Ce cadre analytique est appliqué à quelques expériences de péages routiers urbains ou suburbains dans divers pays. Leur analyse montre que les dimensions de l'efficacité et de l'équité se conjuguent, en se renforçant le plus souvent les unes les autres dans leurs aspects négatifs ou positifs. Cette analyse montre aussi que ces différentes dimensions de l'équité ne peuvent être ignorées sous peine d'échec. Elle permet ainsi d'identifier les voies selon lesquelles l'acceptabilité de la tarification de la circulation urbaine pourrait être améliorée.