The use of a biotrickling filter was investigated for a pilot field-scale elimination of NH₃ gas and other odorous gases from a composting plant in Tongzhou District, Beijing. The inlet gas flow rate was 3500 m³/h and NH₃ concentration fluctuated between 2.76–27.84 mg/m³, while the average outlet concentration was 1.06 mg/m³ with an average of 94.9% removal. Critical volumetric loading (removal efficiency=100%) was 11.22 g-N/(m³·h). The odor concentration removal was 86.7%. NH₃ removal efficiency decreased as the free ammonia (FA) in the trickling liquid increased. The pressure drop was maintained at about 50 Pa/m and was never more than 55 Pa/m. During the experiment, there was neither backflushing required nor any indication of clogging. Overall, the biotrickling filter was highly efficient and cost-effective for the simultaneous biodegradation of NH₃ and other odorous gases from composting, suggesting the possibility of treating odorous gases at the industrial level.

Due to large-scale dredging operations, a large amount of sludge is inevitably produced. Large areas of land are occupied when the dredged sludge is discarded in the disposal site as waste material. The sludge dewatering with aeration-vacuum (SDAV) method is suit for treating the sludge with high water content and high clay content in the disposal site. The water in the sludge can be discharged out. The volume of the sludge can be reduced quickly, and the recycling of the land can be accelerated by this method. Most importantly, this technique is an efficient way to deal with clogging problems when pumping water from high water content, high clay content dredged sludge. Vacuum degree range tests, the aeration rate range tests, and the influencing factors of sludge dewatering behavior tests were conducted with a self-developed SDAV model test device. Sludge samples were taken from the South-to-North Water Diversion East Line Project in Huai’an White-Horse Lake disposal site, Jiangsu Province, China. The optimal range of vacuum degree and aeration rate were obtained through the test results, and the mechanisms for how the two factors work and how they affect the sludge dewatering behavior were analyzed. The suitable vacuum degree range in SDAV is below 50 kPa, and the suitable aeration rate is about 1.0 m³/h. The low-vacuum degree contributes to reduce the adsorption effect of micro-channels on soil particles in filter material and to maintain the arch structures. Aeration has the effects of expansion, disturbance, changing Reynolds number, and dynamic sieve separating. The pump quantity of water per meter of filter tube (Δm) has different change rules as the vacuum degree changes under different aeration rates. The reason is that the formed arch structures’ conformation and permeability differ greatly under different combined-conditions of vacuum degree and aeration rate. The optimal combined-condition for dewatering the sludge is 35 kPa with 1.0 m³/h.

Numerous experiments have shown that the water flow in fine-grained soils can obey an exponential relationship at small gradients and a linear relationship when the hydraulic gradient exceeds a certain limit. Based on the non-Darcian flow described by exponent and threshold gradient, the theory of 1D consolidation is modified in this paper to consider a linear variation in the vertical total stress with depth and the effect of ramp loading. The numerical solutions were derived in detail by the finite difference method for excess pore water pressure and the average degree of consolidation. Finally, the influence of various parameters on consolidation behavior was investigated. The results show that the rate of consolidation is reduced when non-Darcian flow described by exponent and threshold gradient is adopted in the theory of 1D consolidation. As well the distribution of vertical total stress has a great influence on the dissipation of excess pore water pressure, either for pervious top and pervious bottom (PTPB) or for pervious top and impervious bottom (PTIB). For the case of PTIB, the distribution of vertical total stress in a foundation has a great influence on the rate of consolidation; however, for the case of PTPB, the rate of consolidation is independent of the distribution of vertical total stress. The rate of consolidation is dependent on the ratio of the thickness of a soil layer to the equivalent head of the final average vertical total stress; the greater the value of this ratio, the slower the rate of consolidation. Finally, an increase in construction time reduces the consolidation rate of a foundation. Thus, consolidation behavior of 1D consolidation with non-Darcian flow has been thoroughly acquainted in this paper.

Underground space in urban areas has been expanding rapidly during recent decades, and so has the incidence of fatal accidents and extensive damage to facilities resulting from underground flooding. To evaluate the safe evacuation potential of individual underground spaces in flood-prone urban areas, the hydraulic effects of flood prevention measures, e.g., stacked flashboards or sandbags and elevated steps, were incorporated in a proposed formula for estimating the depth of inundation of an underground floor. A mathematical expression of the critical rainfall intensity for safe evacuation from underground space was established and then evaluated for two types of underground spaces, an underground shopping mall and a building basement. The results show that the critical rainfall intensity for any individual underground space can be determined easily using the proposed analytical or graphical solution. However, traditional underground flood prevention measures cannot improve safety if people refuse to evacuate immediately once water intrudes into the underground space.

This paper describes the procedure of using the GM (1,1) weighted Markov chain (GMWMC) to forecast the utility water supply, a quantity that usually has significant temporal variability. The GMWMC is formulated into five steps: (1) use GM (1,1) to fit the trend of the data, and obtain the relative error of the fitted values; (2) divide the relative error into ‘state’ data based on pre-set intervals; (3) calibrate the weighted Markov chain model: herein the parameters are the pre-set interval and the step of transition matrix (TM); (4) by using auto-correlation coefficient as the weight, the Markov chain provides the prediction interval. Then the mid-value of the interval is selected as the relative error for the data. Upon combining the data and its relative error, the predicted magnitude in a specific time period is obtained; and, (5) validate the model. Commonly, static intervals are used in both model calibration and validation stages, usually causing large errors. Thus, a dynamic adjustment interval (DAI) is proposed for a better performance. The proposed procedure is described and demonstrated through a case study, which shows that the DAI can usually achieve a better performance than the static interval, and the best TM may exist for certain data.

The effect of fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) on chloride migration through concrete subjected to repeated loading was examined. Portland cement was replaced by three percentages (20%, 30%, and 40%) of mineral admixtures. Five repeated loadings were applied to concrete specimens using a WHY series fully automatic testing machine. The maximum loadings were 40% and 80% of the axial cylinder compressive strength (f′_c). Chloride migration through concretes was evaluated using the rapid chloride migration test and the chloride concentration in the anode chamber was measured. The results showed that the replacement percentages of mineral admixtures, the curing time and repeated loading had a significant effect on chloride migration through concrete. The transport number of chloride through concrete cured for 28 d increased with increasing FA replacement and markedly decreased with extension of the curing time. 20% and 30% GGBFS replacement decreased the transport number of chloride through concrete, but 40% GGBFS replacement increased the transport number. Five repeated loadings at 40% or 80% f′_c increased the transport number of chloride for all mixes.

Landscape design for a green community should be favorable for the ambient ecological environment and for enhancement of both the local climate of a residential area and the environmental quality of life. This paper presents optimization methods for plant landscape design that take account of results of comparisons of noise reduction effects, heat island temperature decreases and effects on ventilation. These methods are based on different plant configurations and various luminous environments, such as exterior sunshine and shaded areas after the simulation of exterior luminous, acoustic and thermal environments of a residential area using the analytic software ECOTECT, CADNA/A, and PHEONICS. Three different types of residential buildings are simulated including a faculty apartment in the Xixi Campus of Zhejiang University, the Huaqing Villa and the Gangwan Jiayuan faculty apartment of Zhejiang University, China, based on green building design theory. In addition, the methods and process flow of landscape design of green residential areas are also described for the improvement of the exterior physical living environment.

An in situ calibration system is a versatile exploration instrument for electrochemical sensors investigating the biochemical properties of the marine environment. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design of an auto-calibrating system for electrochemical (pH) sensors, which permits two-point in situ calibration, suitable for long-term measurement in deep sea aqueous environments. Holding multiple sensors, the instrument is designed to perform long-term measurements and in situ calibrations at abyssal depth (up to 4000 m). The instrument is composed of a compact fluid control system which is pressure-equilibrated and designed for deep-sea operation. In situ calibration capability plays a key role in the quality and reproducibility of the data. This paper focuses on methods for extending the lifetime of the instrument, considering the fluidics design, mechanical design, and low-power consumption of the electronics controller. The instrument can last 46 d under normal operating conditions, fulfilling the need for long-term operation. Data concerning pH measured during the KNOX18RR cruise (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, July-August, 2008) illustrate the desirable properties of the instrument. Combined with different electrodes (pH, H₂, H₂S, etc.), it should be of great utility for the study of deep ocean environments, including water column and diffuse-flow hydrothermal fluids.