Journal of Energy Engineering

The effects of hydrogen (protium) or deuterium absorption/desorption cycling on the strength and hardness of well-annealed palladium have been evaluated in this study. The results indicate that absorption followed by complete desorption of hydrogen or deuterium increases the strength and hardness characteristics of the palladium matrix while decreasing the metal's ductility. Increasing the amount of hydrogen or deuterium during absorption leads to more pronounced effects on the strength, hardness, and ductility of palladium. The effects of hydrogen absorption/desorption are more pronounced than those of deuterium absorption/desorption. The observed results have been explained in terms of the generation of dislocations during hydrogen or deuterium cycling.

The objective of the U.S. Department of Energy's Volume Purchase Program is to work with utilities to market emerging energy and water efficient technologies. Using a volume purchase strategy, the Department of Energy wants to transform the U.S. market for new, energy and water efficient clothes washers to increase and hasten market acceptance of these appliances. This paper describes how multiobjective decision analysis is used to evaluate market transformation strategies for high-efficiency clothes washers. The three alternatives being considered are (1) volume purchases; (2) utility rebates; and (3) no incentives. A Hill's goals-achievement matrix methodology is used to analyze the ability of each alternative to meet the goals of environmental and energy conservation and economic improvement. The differing viewpoints of the consumer, utility, appliance manufacturer, and U.S. government are considered in the evaluation. The results of the analysis show that the volume purchase option is marginally superior to the utility rebate option. The option to offer no incentives is a significantly inferior alternative to the other proposed alternatives.

This research examines the Saudi Consolidated Electric Company in the Eastern Province, a typical service provider in Saudi Arabia in which service quality is of primary importance. Four gaps have an impact on the consumer's evaluation of service quality: consumer expectation-management perception, service quality specification, service performance, and external communication. The study revealed that Gap 3 (service performance) is more critical than the others in affecting perceived service quality, making service delivery the main area of improvement. Frontline staff also agree that Gap 4 contributed to the problem (i.e., when delivery does not match the company's promises) but to a lesser degree than Gap 3.