ASEAN Journal of Scientific and Technological Reports

Techno-Economic Assessment of Utility-Scale Dual-Rotor Wind Power Generation: A Case Study of Siam Eastern Industrial Park, Rayong Province, Thailand

2024-01-29T09:18:56+07:00

The energy transition to renewables is considered one of the primary ways to limit the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), as the electricity sector is among the major users of fossil fuels. Solar and wind power are leading the way and becoming more cost-effective than coal and other fossil fuels. As renewable energy is becoming more economical, industries worldwide are adopting it to reduce their carbon footprints. This study is aimed at the techno-economic assessment of a 20 MW utility-scale dual-rotor wind power plant installed at Siam Eastern Industrial Park in the Rayong province of Thailand. Using the MERRA-2 wind database, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and the rough digital data of the study area, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) wind flow modeling was used to create a microscale wind resource map of the study area. The modeling yielded an average windspeed of 5.4 m/s at the hub height of 90 m above ground level (agl). Using four 5 MW dual-rotor wind turbine generators, the wind power plant would have an annual energy production (AEP) of 75.7 GWh/yr with a capacity factor (CF) of 43%. The economic assessment of the power plant was performed using various economic indicators, notably the benefit-cost ratio (BCR), the net present value (NPV), the internal rate of return (IRR), and the payback period (PBP) at different benefit scenarios defined by the Provincial Electricity Authority of Thailand (PEA) and private power purchase agreements. The financial parameters were all positive for each of the PEA’s benefits scenarios, even without the carbon trading benefits, thus making this wind power plant economically viable. Studies like these are essential to build the confidence of investors and developers by providing them with well-informed information on the feasibility of wind power plant projects and their benefits, thus contributing to the development of wind energy in various jurisdictions.

Fabrication, ‘Optimisation,’ Characterization, and In Vivo Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Testosterone Undecanoate Loaded Proniosome Capsule for Enhanced Oral Bioavailability

2024-03-08T09:23:58+07:00

This study focuses on creating and evaluating proniosome capsules as a potential drug delivery method to increase the oral bioavailability of testosterone undecanoate. The three main stages of the study are proniosome capsule fabrication optimization, characterization, and in vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation. The most prominent response surface approach (CCD – Central Composite Design) was used in the fabrication-optimization phase to determine the appropriate ratios of the factors that have the greatest effects on the particle size, PDI, and percentage of drug entrapment of testosterone undecanoate proniosomes. Creating testosterone undecanoate-loaded proniosomal formulations was possible using various ratios of span 60 and cholesterol. The physical and chemical characteristics of proniosome capsules, such as size, shape, surface charge, and drug-release kinetics, such as percentage drug entrapment, Vesicle size (nm), and PDI, must be thoroughly analyzed. Animal models were used to determine how the proniosome capsules affect the bioavailability of testosterone undecanoate after oral administration. Factors like absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion are carefully evaluated to determine whether the capsules successfully enhance drug delivery. The reduced particle size, polydispersity index (PDI, 282.33 ± 1.52 nm and 0.181 ± 0.003), and the highest entrapment efficiency (98.12 ± 1.03%) made the optimized formulation the ideal formulation. The Higuchi model provided the most comprehensive justification for releasing the testosterone undecanoate from proniosome compositions. Up to six months of storage, no changes of any type, even those to the proniosomes' color, were seen. There was no drug leakage during the stability study, according to the percentage of drug entrapment data. Positive findings from the in vivo pharmacokinetic investigation also suggested that testosterone undecanoate proniosome formulations may last significantly longer than a pure drug in vivo.

Rubber Management Systems: A Progression from Extractive to Regenerative Production

2024-02-12T21:13:21+07:00

Demand for natural rubber is driving an increase in acreage under production and tonnage of rubber produced. Conventionally managed rubber monocultures have presented multiple ecological, economic, and social risks, and alternative rubber management systems must be explored. The paper outlines a gradient of rubber management systems in the provinces of Phatthalung and Songkhla in Thailand. The field observations and exchanges considering the diversity of practices of various rubber farmers were conducted from October 2020-February 2022. Rubber management systems along a gradient ranging from degenerative to regenerative, suggesting each's key principles, characteristics, and benefits were synthesized to the results. Six rubber management systems were found: monocultural, organic, simple polyculture, complex polyculture, modern jungle, and traditional jungle. Outcomes of rubber production systems include ecological health, economic stability, social well-being, farmer knowledge, and increased relationship with nature based on the rubber regeneration production of conventional systems (monocultural) to complex agroforestry systems (Wanakaset). The continuum of regenerative practices with biological monoculture became a complex polyculture; there is a high level of natural regeneration.

Noise Emission Assessment of a Utility-Scale Wind Power Plant: Case Study of a 90 MW Wind Power Plant in Mukdaharn Province, Northeastern Thailand

2024-03-28T10:28:24+07:00

The noise impact of wind power plants is one of the major reasons for social opposition to wind energy development. The complex noise model (ISO 9613) was employed to model the noise generated by 15 GW165-6.0 MW wind turbine generator units based on the manufacturer-defined acoustic profile. The wind resource at a hub height of the wind turbine generators (144 m agl) was first predicted based on computational fluid dynamics flow modeling. The model noise levels were mapped using ArcGIS and twenty-two receptors comprising houses, temples, and other places at varying distances within the project boundary. Likewise, to compare the noise levels of the wind turbine generators with different noise levels, the ambient noise was measured at selected four receptors. The results showed that the predicted noise was less than 70 dB(A) in the vicinity of the wind turbine generators, decreased down to 40-45 dB(A) within the project boundary, and was in the range of 35-40 dB(A) in the community area. The compared results showed that the ambient noise exceeds the noise levels from the wind turbine generators at all four receptor sites. Hence, wind power plants would not cause any additional noise pollution. Such studies are vital to providing awareness to the public based on proven scientific evidence to gain the public's trust and mitigate social opposition to wind power plants.

Lactic Acid Bacteria from Fermented Asparagus and Stinky Beans Inhibit Clinical Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and Clinical Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

2024-03-28T09:02:53+07:00

The probiotics exhibiting antagonistic activity against gastrointestinal pathogenic bacteria are essential for protecting the host from illnesses and regulating intestinal balance. In this study, we successfully isolated 7 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from fermented asparagus and fermented stinky beans. They showed the sign of probiotic properties, especially 2 strains from fermented asparagus, PZ12 and PZ14, strongly tolerated to simulated gastric juice pH 3.0 supplemented with 0.3% pepsin. Additionally, these 2 LAB strains tolerated 0.5% bile salts for up to 3 hours. Antagonistic activity of 7 LAB strains against clinical Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) and clinical MRSA in this study showed that all LAB strains were capable of inhibiting clinical DEC and clinical MRSA by providing an inhibition zone in the range between 22 and 39 mm. PZ12 and PZ14 also displayed relatively wide inhibition zones against these intestinal pathogens. Antimicrobial-resistant examination demonstrated that most LAB strains could be destroyed by most of the antimicrobial agents tested. LAB strains PZ12 and PZ14 were shown to be resistant to three antimicrobial agents. PZ12 could resist ciprofloxacin, fosfomycin, and streptomycin, and PZ14 was resistant to ciprofloxacin, cefoxitin, and streptomycin. Hence, pickles are a good source of beneficial probiotics for humans.