In order to maximize the potential energy utilization of agricultural and forestry waste and sludge, the experimental research on co-pyrolysis was carried out for two kinds of sludge (urban industrial sludge, paper sludge) and a typical biomass straw. The results show that adding biomass can effectively improve sludge pyrolysis characteristics; biomass straw and sludge, there are complex interactive effects between components in the co-pyrolysis process, and the characteristic parameters show nonlinear changes. When industrial sludge is mixed with straw, with the increase of straw content, the initial temperature of pyrolysis gradually decreases, the termination temperature increases, the peak of pyrolysis reaction rate and the corresponding temperature gradually increase, and the pyrolysis index gradually increases; when paper sludge is mixed with straw, with the increase of straw content, the initial temperature of pyrolysis gradually decreases, the termination temperature increases, the peak of pyrolysis reaction rate gradually increases, while the peak corresponding temperature gradually decreases, and the pyrolysis index gradually decreases. Combined with characteristic parameters and reaction kinetics analysis, it is suggested that the straw mixing proportion should be controlled at about 25% during the co-pyrolysis of industrial sludge and straw. During the co-pyrolysis of paper sludge and straw, it is suggested to control the straw blending ratio at about 75%.

Plasma thermal gasification can be one of the most relevant and environmentally friendly technologies for waste treatment and has gained interest for its use in thethermos-conversion of biomass. In this perspective, the objective of this study is to evaluate the gasification of sugarcane bagasse by studying the effective areas of operation of this process and to establish a comparison with conventional autothermal gasification. A thermochemical equilibrium model was used to calculate the indicators that characterize the performance of the process on its own and integrated with a combined cycle. As a result, it was obtained that plasma and gasification of bagasse is technically feasible for the specific net electrical production of 4 MJ with 30 % electrical efficiency, producing a gas with higher calorific value than autothermal gasification. The operating points where the electrical energy production and the cold gas efficiency reach their highest values were determined; then the effects of the operational parameters on these performance indicators were analyzed.

Heat recovery is one of the measures proposed for the appropriate use of ammonia in tropical countries. This article analyzes a heat recovery system installed in an industrial refrigeration plant. Based on comparative readings of operating parameters of the installation, determined the effectiveness of the heat exchange, the increase in the efficiency of the refrigeration system, as well as the fuel saved by heating water in the industry. The results obtained reported that the thermal design based on heat exchange in annular spaces allows a significant saving of resources and a high rate of thermal utilization.

The study examined the socio-demographic factors affecting access to and utilization of social welfare services in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were adopted to select 570 respondents from the study area. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques were adopted in the selection of communities, and respondents. The quantitative data were analyzed using frequency distribution tables and percentages, while chi-square statistic was used to determine the relationship between socio-demographic variables and access to and utilization of social welfare services. The qualitative data were analyzed in themes as a complement to the quantitative data. This study reveals that although all the respondents reported knowing available social welfare services, 44.3% reported not having access to existing social services due to factors connected to serendipity variables, such as terrain condition, ethnicity and knowing someone in government. Therefore, the study recommends that the government and other stakeholders should push for the massive delivery of much-needed social welfare services to address the issue of welfare service deficit across the nation, irrespective of the ethnic group and whether the community is connected to the government of the day or not, primarily in rural areas.