The interest in optimization problems involving distributed generation units has grown among undergraduate and graduate students since distributed generation unit connections have been encouraged around the world, requiring efficient power system analysis tools to solve them. The available open access tools are commonly focused on transmission network analysis. On the other hand, commercial tools adapted to radial networks do not allow the students to follow the intermediary calculations and learn with them. In many cases, the students have to develop their own computational tools, which is a time-consuming activity. This paper aims to fill the gap encountered by undergraduate and graduate students when they are performing their optimization problems involving distributed generation units, presenting the advantages of a new power flow tool focused on radial electrical distribution networks with high levels of unbalanced loads which require a three-phase power flow tool to be analyzed. The use of the proposed tool allows the students focus on their research, reducing the time spent on programming, and learning about power flow analysis applied to radial networks.

The use of natural solutions has gained increasing attention as a sustainable alternative for water treatment. In this study, an Aloe vera-based coagulant was evaluated through jar test experiments and a laboratory-scale hydraulic system consisting of an alternative flocculator (such as a helically coiled tube) followed by sedimentation and filtration processes. The jar test experiments demonstrated high turbidity removal efficiency, achieving final turbidity values of 5 NTU or lower under all the tested conditions, in accordance with international environmental regulations and standards. Moreover, in some conditions, turbidity was completely eliminated, highlighting the remarkable coagulation performance of Aloe vera. In the hydraulic system, the results indicated a significant turbidity reduction, with turbidity removal efficiencies of up to 97%, coagulation/flocculation times under 2 min, and sedimentation times of 60 min. However, the combined coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation processes were not sufficient to reduce the final turbidity to below 5 NTU, demonstrating the need for an additional rapid filtration step. The inclusion of this process further enhanced the particle removal, resulting in final turbidity values below 1 NTU, well within the regulatory limits. These results highlight the potential of the tested natural coagulant for application in water treatment systems, establishing it as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for water clarification, with promising prospects for large-scale implementation.

Access to safe drinking water is a major challenge for vulnerable populations, especially in regions with limited infrastructure. The use of chemical coagulants in water treatment presents environmental and health risks due to their non-biodegradable byproducts, which contaminate ecosystems. Natural coagulants offer a safer alternative, as they decompose naturally and reduce pollution. However, their production often requires complex methods, such as microfiltration and lyophilization, which are unsuitable for resource-limited areas. This study introduces a simplified method for producing a natural coagulant from the seeds of Moringa oleifera, eliminating the need for complex techniques or saline solutions. The process involves peeling, grinding the seeds, stirring with water, and filtering through paper filters, producing the coagulant in under 30 min. Coagulation tests showed complete turbidity removal with 5 mL of coagulant per liter of water at 100 NTU. This economical and environmentally sustainable method offers a practical solution for improving water treatment in resource-limited communities.

In the transition to electric mobility (EM), business model innovation plays a crucial role in expanding the use of electric vehicles and increasing acceptance of this technology. The transition pathways differ between countries in the largest economies and those in Latin America. Brazil presents a unique scenario, benefiting from an early start with biofuels, the production of flex-fuel vehicles, predominantly renewable electric energy generation (>80%), and the absence of a structured national policy aligned with local governments. This study introduces a framework that surveys and categorizes businesses in EM, relating them to sustainable development aspects and regulatory maturity. It builds a solid conceptual foundation, incorporating data from technical and commercial events, as well as interviews with Brazilian specialists for validation. The proposed framework aids in understanding the Brazilian context, identifying regulatory gaps, and developing a common language to advance studies on business model innovation, contributing to electromobility studies in Latin America. Additionally, it can guide the construction of regional and local public policies and help identify more sustainable projects.

New sustainable technologies have been explored as potential solutions to address the global issue of water scarcity by enhancing water treatment processes. In this context, an innovative coagulation/flocculation unit known as the helically coiled tube flocculator (HCTF) has emerged, offering notable advantages such as high process efficiency, short detention time, and cost-effectiveness compared to conventional hydraulic units. The HCTF harnesses its flow energy to disperse coagulation/flocculation agents and facilitate the formation of flocs through collisions between destabilized particles. This paper introduces an assessment of the process efficiency, geometric properties, and hydraulic characteristics of an alternative and sustainable water clarification system incorporating an HCTF, with the aim of determining its optimal length. In HCTFs, the flocculator’s length (referred to as L) can exert a significant influence on process efficiency, necessitating a comprehensive evaluation of this parameter for the rational design of such units. To accomplish this, the paper scrutinizes physical experimental findings from previous research articles, which are related to the efficiency of flocculation (indirectly estimated by analyzing turbidity removal efficiency). Additionally, it examines the geometric and hydraulic attributes across 48 distinct variations of HCTFs. This study culminates in the development of a model for determining the optimal length for HCTFs. Furthermore, it includes a probabilistic assessment that establishes a connection between the optimal length and other parameters involved in the clarification process—whether deterministic or probabilistic—and their impact on the final process efficiency, all with a 90% confidence level. This paper stands out by pioneering the determination of the optimal length of HCTFs, filling a gap in the existing literature, which previously only mentioned the importance of this parameter in process efficiency without providing a predictive model. The results highlight the robustness of the proposed alternative clarification system. Even in scenarios with substantial variations in dimensional hydraulic parameters (such as a worst-case relative standard deviation of 20%), the process efficiency fluctuations range between 1.3% and 5.2%. These outcomes lend support to the adoption of such alternative water clarification systems. They also underscore the potential of probabilistic evaluation as a valuable tool for investigating novel water and wastewater treatment units and enhancing existing ones.