bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Hydrogen Addition on the Pollutant Emissions of a Marine Internal Combustion Engine Genset
Authors: Mallouppas George , Yfantis Elias A. , Frantzis Charalambos , Zannis Theodoros , Savva Petros G.
Published: October 2022

Hydrogen, as a maritime fuel, is one of the solutions that will assist the shipping sector in addressing the challenges regarding decarbonization, taking into consideration the targets set for 2030 and 2050. The extensive utilization of hydrogen requires massive production of green hydrogen and the development of proper infrastructure to support a sustainable supply chain. An alternative solution is based on the on-board production of hydrogen, where production units are installed on-board the vessel. Along these lines, the HYMAR project aims to test the utilization of a hydrogen production unit for on-board use. The article deals with the use of hydrogen as a fuel for internal combustion engines, taking into consideration reports from literature and the preliminary results of the HYMAR project, focusing on the environmental impact and the reduction in emissions. Experimental investigation on a marine auxiliary engine for power generation, under the HYMAR project, leads to promising results regarding the environmental footprint of the internal combustion engine when hydrogen is added in the fuel mix with increasing percentages.
Electric Vehicle as a Service (EVaaS): Applications, Challenges and Enablers
Authors: Umoren Ifiok Anthony , Shakir Muhammad Zeeshan
Published: October 2022

Under the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) concept, electric vehicles (EVs) can be deployed as loads to absorb excess production or as distributed energy resources to supply part of their stored energy back to the grid. This paper overviews the technologies, technical components and system requirements needed for EV deployment. Electric vehicle as a service (EVaaS) exploits V2G technology to develop a system where suitable EVs within the distribution network are chosen individually or in aggregate to exchange energy with the grid, individual customers or both. The EVaaS framework is introduced, and interactions among EVaaS subsystems such as EV batteries, charging stations, loads and advanced metering infrastructure are studied. The communication infrastructure and processing facilities that enable data and information exchange between EVs and the grid are reviewed. Different strategies for EV charging/discharging and their impact on the distribution grid are reviewed. Several market designs that incentivize energy trading in V2G environments are discussed. The benefits of V2G are studied from the perspectives of ancillary services, supporting of renewables and the environment. The challenges to V2G are studied with respect to battery degradation, energy conversion losses and effects on distribution system.
Modelling Case Study of Compact Combination Hybrids as Low Disruption Decarbonised Heat
Authors: Watson Stephen , Bennett George
Published: October 2022

Transitioning from predominantly natural gas domestic heating to low carbon heating is one of the major challenges of the UK’s net zero decarbonisation pathway. Compact wall-hung combination boilers are the dominant heating appliance and continue to be installed as a rate of over 1.5 million per year, compared to less than 50 k per year for Heat Pumps. The disparity persists despite repeated Government support in the form of the Renewable Heat Incentive and the Green Homes Grant. Compact hybrid appliances offer a technology solution similar to the current combination boiler in terms of size and performance, which could be attractive to consumers. However, there is currently little knowledge of the emissions savings that could be achieved in practice by compact hybrid appliances. This research systematically analyses real world high frequency boiler data to evaluate the potential of such appliances to make carbon savings while emulating combination boiler operation. By utilising high frequency diagnostic data from combination boilers, the disaggregated (hot water and heating) demand is mapped onto hybrid models to determine the energy and emission impact. Exploration of the relative power output of the HP and boiler components of the modelled hybrid appliances provides insight into the appropriate specification of compact hybrids which can deliver similar heat service to boilers while maximising emissions savings. The analysis shows that hybrid appliances with moderately sized HPs can significantly contribute to the decarbonisation of the homes considered in the study. Considerable disruption could be avoided in retrofit due to the physical size of the proposed heat pump and ability of the hybrid system to operate with the existing heat emitter network.
Modeling of Gas Flows in Underground Gas Storage Facilities
Authors: Iwaszczuk Natalia , Prytula Myroslav , Prytula Nazar , Pyanylo Yaroslav , Iwaszczuk Aleksander
Published: October 2022

The object of this study is the underground gas storage facilities of Ukraine, with the aim of developing a systematic mathematical model to describe the flow of gas in complex underground gas storage systems. This model will enable to development of effective methods and algorithms for calculating the modes of operation of such systems. The proposed systematic mathematical model connects the model of the structure of underground gas storage in terms of graph theory with variable topology and various mathematical models of gas flows in facilities with concentrated and distributed parameters. We set the models of gas flows in UGS facilities in the form of analytical relations, differential equations and algorithmically described systems. In order to automate the process of model construction (for given boundary conditions), we developed a system of formation, analysis and synthesis of graphs for underground gas storage facilities, as well as a set of information and mathematical models of facilities.
A Technique to Determine the Breakthrough Pressure of Shale Gas Reservoir by Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Authors: Xiao Juanjuan , Xiao Yufeng , Ge Xinmin , Zhou Tianqi
Published: October 2022

The porous and low-permeability characteristics of a shale gas reservoir determine its high gas storage efficiency, which is manifested in the extremely high breakthrough pressure of shale. Therefore, the accurate calculation of breakthrough pressure is of great significance to the study of shale gas preservation conditions. Based on a systematic analysis of a low-field NMR experiment on marine shales of the Longmaxi Formation in the Sichuan Basin, a shale gas breakthrough pressure determination technique different from conventional methods is proposed. The conventional methods have low calculation accuracy and are a tedious and time-consuming process, while low-field NMR technique is less time-consuming and of high accuracy. Firstly, the NMR T2 spectrum of shale core sample in different states is measured through low-field NMR experiment. The NMR T2 spectra of sample in water-saturated state and dry state are combined to model the mathematical relationship between shale gas breakthrough pressure and NMR T2 spectrum. It is found that the gas breakthrough pressure is power-exponentially related to the geometric mean of NMR T2 spectrum and positively related to the proportion of micropores. Accordingly, the shale gas breakthrough pressure is quickly and accurately calculated using continuous NMR logging data and then the sealing capacity of the shale caprocks is evaluated, providing basic parameters for analyzing unconventional hydrocarbon accumulation, preservation and migration. This technique has been successfully applied with actual data to evaluate the sealing capacity of shale caprock in a shale gas well in the Sichuan Basin. It can provide a good basis for the evaluation and characterization of shale oil and gas reservoirs.
Simulation of Polymer Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery in Ghawar Field
Authors: Berger Maaike , Picchioni Francesco , Druetta Pablo
Published: October 2022

This paper presents a 2D model of the Ghawar field and investigates the flow behavior in the field during secondary and tertiary recoveries using a simplified well scheme. For the latter, the focus is on chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), using polymer solutions. The difference in efficiency between secondary and tertiary recovery and the influence of factors such as degradation are analyzed and presented. Furthermore, the influence of oil viscosity on the recovery factor is investigated as well as the efficiency of the well placement of the model studied. In order to do this, a combined shear-thinning/-thickening model, the Unified Viscosity Model (UVM), is used. COMSOL Multiphysics is used in order to study the model, combining the fluid flow and mass transfer in one study, showing the interdependence of both physics transport phenomena. The results show how the influence of the polymer properties and the rock formation affect the recovery behavior. The particle tracing study allows us to determine the percentage of the chemical agent recovered in the producing wells. This paper shows how EOR agents works coupled with advanced numerical models in real-scale fields.
Sequential Data-Driven Long-Term Weather Forecasting Models’ Performance Comparison for Improving Offshore Operation and Maintenance Operations
Authors: Pandit Ravi , Astolfi Davide , Tang Anh Minh , Infield David
Published: October 2022

Offshore wind turbines (OWTs), in comparison to onshore wind turbines, are gaining popularity worldwide since they create a large amount of electrical power and have thus become more financially viable in recent years. However, OWTs are costly as they are vulnerable to damage from extremely high-speed winds and thereby affect operation and maintenance (O&M) operations (e.g., vessel access, repair, and downtime). Therefore, accurate weather forecasting helps to optimise wind farm O&M operations, improve safety, and reduce the risk for wind farm operators. Sequential data-driven models recently found application in solving the wind turbines problem; however, their application to improve offshore operation and maintenance through weather forecasting is still limited and needs further investigation. This paper fills this gap by proposing three sequential data-driven techniques, namely, long short-term memory (LSTM), bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM) and gated recurrent units (GRU) for long-term weather forecasting. The proposed techniques are then compared to summarise the strength and weaknesses of these models concerning long-term weather forecasting. Weather datasets (wind speed and wave height) are intermittent over different time scales and reflect offshore weather conditions. These datasets (obtained from the FINO3 database) will be used in this study for training and validation purposes. The study results suggest that the proposed technique can generate more realistic and reliable weather forecasts in the long term. It can also be stated that it responds better to seasonality and forecasted expected results. This is further validated by the calculated values of statistical performance metrics and uncertainty quantification.
The Role of Hydrogen in the Visegrad Group Approach to Energy Transition
Authors: Kochanek Ewelina
Published: October 2022

Hydrogen is an energy carrier in which hopes are placed for an easier achievement of climate neutrality. Together with electrification, energy efficiency development, and RES, hydrogen is expected to enable the ambitious energy goals of the European Green Deal. Hence, the aim of the article is to query the development of the hydrogen economy in the Visegrad Group countries (V4). The study considers six diagnostic features: sources of hydrogen production, hydrogen legislation, financial mechanisms, objectives included in the hydrogen strategy, environmental impact of H2, and costs of green hydrogen investments. The analysis also allowed to indicate the role that hydrogen will play in the energy transition process of the V4 countries. The analysis shows that the V4 countries have similar approaches to the development of the hydrogen market, but the hydrogen strategies published by each of the Visegrad countries are not the same. Each document sets goals based on the hydrogen production to date and the specifics of the domestic energy and transport sectors, as there are no solutions that are equally effective for all. Poland’s hydrogen strategy definitely stands out the strongest.
Wireless Power Transfer—A Review
Authors: Detka Kalina , Górecki Krzysztof
Published: October 2022

This paper presents the current state of knowledge in the field of wireless power transfer. The concept of such a transfer and the basic methods of its implementation are described, together with block diagrams of the necessary devices. The technologies of electrical power transfer over short and long distances are characterized. The most popular electrical power transfer technology based on the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction is discussed in great detail. The analysis of the influences of such factors as the coupling factor, the shape of the coils, the type of ferromagnetic material from which the core of the coils is made, and the mutual position of the transmitting and receiving coils are analyzed on the properties of the wireless power transfer system. The advantages and disadvantages of the used technologies are shown. Furthermore, a wireless power transfer system is presented for charging the batteries of electric vehicles. The standards of wireless power transfer are also presented, and development trends are outlined.
Dynamic Modeling of CO2 Absorption Process Using Hollow-Fiber Membrane Contactor in MEA Solution
Authors: Bozonc Alexandru-Constantin , Cormos Ana-Maria , Dragan Simion , Dinca Cristian , Cormos Calin-Cristian
Published: October 2022

In this work, a comprehensive mathematical model was developed in order to evaluate the CO2 capture process in a microporous polypropylene hollow-fiber membrane countercurrent contactor, using monoethanolamine (MEA) as the chemical solvent. In terms of CO2 chemical absorption, the developed model showed excellent agreement with the experimental data published in the literature for a wide range of operating conditions (R2 > 0.96), 1–2.7 L/min gas flow rates and 10–30 L/h liquid flow rates. Based on developed model, the effects of the gas flow rate, aqueous liquid absorbents’ flow rate and also inlet CO2 concentration on the removal efficiency of CO2 were determined. The % removal of CO2 increased while increasing the MEA solution flow rate; 81% of CO2 was removed at the high flow rate. The CO2 removal efficiency decreased while increasing the gas flow rate, and the residence time in the hollow-fiber membrane contactors increased when the gas flow rate was lower, reaching 97% at a gas flow rate of 1 L‧min−1. However, the effect was more pronounced while operating at high gas flow rates. Additionally, the influence of momentous operational parameters such as the number of fibers and module length on the CO2 separation efficiency was evaluated. On this basis, the developed model was also used to evaluate CO2 capture process in hollow-fiber membrane contactors in a flexible operation scenario (with variation in operating conditions) in order to predict the process parameters (liquid and gaseous flows, composition of the streams, mass transfer area, mass transfer coefficient, etc.).
Research on Value-Seeking Calculation Method of Icing Environmental Parameters Based on Four Rotating Cylinders Array
Authors: Yang Guolin , Liao Yi , Jiang Xingliang , Han Xiangshuai , Ding Jiangyi , Chen Yu , Han Xingbo , Zhang Zhijin
Published: October 2022

This paper calculates and analyzes the collision and freezing characteristics of water droplets on the cylindrical conductors with different diameters and deduces the variation law of icing weight change rate on different diameters rotating cylindrical conductors with wind speed, ambient temperature, liquid water content, and median volume diameter. Then, a prediction and value-seeking method of icing environment parameters based on rotating circular conductors is determined. The laboratory test results show that the measured values of ambient temperature T, wind speed U, liquid water content w and median volume diameter MVD are in good conformity with the reference values measured by other instruments, and the average errors of each parameter are 3.41%, 5.44%, 6.08% and 7.20%, respectively. The field natural experiment was carried out at Hunan Xuefengshan Energy Equipment Safety National Observation and Research Station. The obtained icing environmental parameters were substituted into the icing simulation calculation model of the LDQ-100 glass insulator. Compared with the field experiment results, the simulated ice shape and the field ice shape were in good agreement. The error between the numerical calculation results of the icing weight and the field icing weight of the experimental insulator was less than 6%.
Fabrication of Graphene Sheets Using an Atmospheric Pressure Thermal Plasma Jet System
Authors: Rahman Shams ur , Ahmed Waqqar , Rehman Najeeb Ur , Alkhedher Mohammad , Tag El Din ElSayed M.
Published: October 2022

The mass production of cost-effective, large area, defect-free and high crystal quality graphene sheets with a high yield is a challenging task. In order to investigate the mechanisms involved, we report on the synthesis of graphene sheets by a homemade atmospheric pressure thermal plasma jet system, which is a single-step and less time-consuming technique. The samples were prepared by using pure Ar gas and a mixture of Ar and N2. The microstructure of the synthesized graphene sheets was characterized with the help of Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The appearance of G and 2D peaks in the Raman spectrum confirmed the formation of graphene. Moreover, we observed that the addition of nitrogen increased the production of the graphene sheets but compromised the quality of those graphene sheets by increasing their structural defects. The morphology of the synthesized samples studied via FE-SEM images showed that the sheets were composed of multilayers. FTIR spectra show the presence of C=C and a hydroxyl group directly bonded to the aromatic hydrocarbon.
A Novel Classification of the 330 kV Nigerian Power Network Using a New Voltage Stability Pointer
Authors: Badrudeen Tayo Uthman , Ariyo Funso Kehinde , Gbadamosi Saheed Lekan , Nwulu Nnamdi I.
Published: October 2022

The incessant power outages that characterize the Nigerian power network (NGP), as in all developing countries, are not limited to the shortage of fuel for power generation. However, differential power shortages between the generated power and the load demand are alarming. In this study, we propose a new voltage stability pointer (NVSP) based on a reduced one-line power network to act as a classifier. The NVSP was trained with a support vector machine (SVM) using a medium Gaussian kernel classification toolbox (mGkCT) in the MATLAB environment. This classification is based on the power network susceptibility to voltage instability. NGP 28-bus 330 kV data were extracted and modeled in the MATLAB environment and tested with the NVSP-mGkCT classifier. The NVSP-mGkCT was able to classify the lines viz. stable and unstable lines for the base and contingency cases. Similarly, the linear load dynamics and non-linear load dynamics were evaluated on the basis of critical buses using the NVSP. The aim of this work was to help the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the National Control Centre (NCC) to be pre-emptive with respect to possible voltage collapse due to voltage instability. The simulation results show that NVSP was able to flag vulnerable lines in the NGP.
Ellipsoidal Design of Robust Stabilization for Markov Jump Power Systems under Normal and Contingency Conditions
Authors: Soliman Hisham M. , El-Sheikhi Farag A. , Bayoumi Ehab H. E. , De Santis Michele
Published: October 2022

The essential prerequisites for secure customer service are power system stability and reliability. This work shows how to construct a robust switching control for studying power system load changes using an invariant ellipsoid method. Furthermore, the suggested control ensures stability when the system is subjected to random stochastic external disturbances, and functions randomly in two conditions: normal and contingency. The extreme (least) reliability state is chosen as the most severe scenario (corresponding to a transmission line outage). As a two-state Markov random chain, the transition probabilities are utilized to simulate the switching between normal and contingency modes (or processes). To characterize the dynamics of the studied system, a stochastic mathematical model is developed. The effect of stochastic disturbances and random normal/contingency operations is taken into account during the design stage. For a stochastic power system, a novel excitation control is designed. The attractive ellipsoid approach and linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) optimization are used to build the best two-controller gains. Therefore, the proposed modeling/design technique can be employed for the power system under load changes, stochastic topological changes, and random disturbances. Finally, the system’s random dynamics simulation indicates the effectiveness of the designed control law.
Energy Consumption for Nutrient Removal from High-Nitrate and High-Phosphorus Wastewater in Aerobic and Anaerobic Bioelectrochemical Reactors
Authors: Rodziewicz Joanna , Mielcarek Artur , Bryszewski Kamil , Janczukowicz Wojciech , Kłobukowska Karolina
Published: October 2022

An attempt was undertaken to determine indicators of energy consumption in bio-electro reactors (BERs) i.e., an aerobic rotating electrobiological disc contactor (REBDC) and an anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR), during contaminant removal from soilless tomato cultivation wastewater having a specific composition, i.e., high nitrate and phosphorus concentrations and low COD. Because of this specificity, the energy consumption during the treatment process was characterized by a cumulative indicator for simultaneous removal of phosphorus and nitrates—EEINUTRIENTSrem (electric energy consumption per unit of removed nutrient load, expressed as kWh/kgNUTRIENTSrem). Four values of direct current density were tested: 0.63, 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 A/m2. The indicator values were compared at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 24 h. The study demonstrated that the values of electric energy consumption per unit of removed nutrient load determined in the anaerobic SBBR ranged from 30 to 464 kWh/kg NUTRIENTSrem and were lower than the values obtained in the aerobic REBCD, i.e., 80–1380 kWh/kg NUTRIENTSrem.
Voltage Stability Control Based on Angular Indexes from Stationary Analysis
Authors: Lopez Gabriel J. , González Jorge W. , Isaac Idi A. , Cardona Hugo A. , Vasco Oscar H.
Published: October 2022

This paper presents a novel methodology for the calculation of angular indexes of an electrical system from stationary analysis, using load flow and nose curves (P–V) in each of the buses of the system to perform control actions and preserve or improve voltage stability. The control actions are proposed considering a novel method based on the concepts of the cutset angle (CA) and center of angle (COA). The target is a fast estimation of voltage-stability margins through an appropriate angular characterization of the whole system and for each load bus with a complete network and N-1 contingency criteria. The most significant enhancement is that the angular characterization is based on the COA, which is related to the angular dynamics of the system, and indirectly reflects the inertia and the respective angles of the generator rotor, as well as the impact on the angular equivalent-system model. Simulations showed that the COA is an important index to determine the location of occurrence of the events. The COA can also help aim where control actions, like the amount of load shedding, should be carried out to remedy the voltage problems. The proposed method is assessed and tested in the benchmark IEEE 39-bus system.
The Environmental Protection and Effective Energy Consumption in the Light of the EFQM Model 2020—Case Study
Authors: Martusewicz Joanna , Szewczyk Karol , Wierzbic Arkadiusz
Published: October 2022

This research uses an inductive inference approach supported by a literature study and deductive reasoning supported by a case study method. This article is based on a comprehensive literature review which was a foundation for preparation a planned research in organizations implementing the EFQM 2020 Model in order to build a strategy for sustainable development and energy conservation. EFQM is an abbreviation for the name of the European Foundation for Quality Management, a member organization associating entities interested in building lasting value and respecting the ethical principles of running a business. EFQM is headquartered in Brussels, and the partners operate in dozens of countries around the world. The case study methodology is used to present a strategic approach to environmental protection and energy conservation in terms of the EFQM 2020 Model guidelines on the example of an international manufacturing company. The main area of activity is the automotive industry, which is positioned as an innovative leader. The assessment was performed in one of the departments specializing in safety elements—elements of the braking system in the car. This business unit has many plants with different locations around the world. The results of the research show that environmental protection and efficient energy consumption are an important element of the company’s strategy. These activities permeate all areas of activity and are reflected in the implementation of management systems and tools aimed at environmental protection. A detailed analysis of the criteria and guidelines of the EFQM 2020 Model showed that each criterion includes guidelines for environmental protection and energy saving measures. Based on the analysis of the researched organization, we can conclude that the conduct in accordance with the guidelines of the EFQM 2020 Model translates into the achievement of measurable, positive results, also in the environmental area, which was the axis of consideration.
Black Start Capability from Large Industrial Consumers
Authors: Abeynayake Gayan , Cipcigan Liana , Ding Xiaolin
Published: October 2022

The way of control and operation of an electrical power system has been changing rapidly with the integration of renewable energy sources (RES). One of the emerging issues that require addressing is the capability of RES to participate in the restoration process upon a total or partial system failure. However, with the continuous shutdown of large-centralised generators, which traditionally provided the black start support together with the variability of RES, the restoration process becomes much more complex. Primarily, the RES should have enough capacity to energise the load at the time of the restoration. Nonetheless, due to significant advantages, there is an increasing trend to use RES to meet the local energy demand by large industrial customers. The flexibility of shifting loads together with the surplus of RE generation could support the system operator during the system energisation process after a blackout. This paper mainly focuses on identifying the capabilities and factors that should be accounted for to participate in the system restoration process by large industrial consumers. The case study conducted on a large-scale steel factory in the UK reveals the possibility of supporting the restoration process under the bottom-up approach.
The Performance of an Air-Cooled Diesel Engine with a Variable Cross-Section Dual-Channel Swirl Chamber
Authors: Wu Lei , Fu Jun , Ma Yi , Xie Donghe
Published: October 2022

In order to improve the performance of a mini-type air-cooled diesel engine in terms of the overall efficiency and engine emissions, a swirl chamber of a variable cross-section dual-channel model was developed. This study proposed nine turbulent swirl chambers with a variable cross-section for a dual-channel combustion solution, which applied a dual-channel cross-section to the insert between the original swirl chamber and the main chamber. Model-based design, simulation and experiments were applied as a feasible approach to address this issue to find out the influence of the dual-channel inclination angle and divergence angle on the swirl rate in the swirl chamber, the power and the emissions performance, including the fuel efficiency. By comparing the tests, the performance of the diesel engine with a variable cross-section dual-channel swirl chamber was superior to the original one with a single channel in terms of the swirl rate, fuel consumption rate and emissions.
Fault Detection, Isolation and Service Restoration in Modern Power Distribution Systems: A Review
Authors: Srivastava Ishan , Bhat Sunil , Vardhan B. V. Surya , Bokde Neeraj Dhanraj
Published: October 2022

This study examines the conceptual features of Fault Detection, Isolation, and Restoration (FDIR) following an outage in an electric distribution system.This paper starts with a discussion of the premise for distribution automation, including its features and the different challenges associated with its implementation in a smart grid paradigm. Then, this article explores various concepts, control schemes, and approaches related to FDIR. Service restoration is one of the main strategies for such distribution automation, through which the healthy section of the power distribution network is re-energized by changing the topology of the network. In a smart grid paradigm, the presence of intelligent electronic devices can facilitate the automatic implementation of the service restoration scheme. The concepts of service restoration and various approaches are thoroughly presented in this article. A comparison is made among various significant approaches reported for distribution automation. The outcome of our literature survey and scope for future research concludes this review.
Biogas Power Generation from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME): Techno-Economic and Environmental Impact Evaluation
Authors: Sodri Ahyahudin , Septriana Fentinur Evida
Published: October 2022

Using palm oil mill effluent (POME) to produce biogas is an alternative and sustainable way to control POME GHG emissions while also providing economic benefits. The increasing area of oil palm plantations encourages an increase in palm oil production and the generation of POME in Indonesia. This could increase potential GHG emissions and global warming. In contrast, biogas power plants from POME are less attractive for economic investment in Indonesia. However, as the world’s largest palm oil producer, Indonesia still lacks techno-economic and environmental studies of biogas power generation from POME. This study aimed to evaluate the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of the biogas power generation from POME at the study site (Bangka Island, Indonesia). The result shows that the biogas plant at the study site can reduce COD levels of POME by up to 91% and produce biogas at 325,292 m3/month, with a 55% methane content. Biogas can be converted into electrical energy at 696,163 kWh/month. The operation of this biogas plant can reduce GHG emissions by 1131 tons CO2-eq/month, with low profitability (NPV of IDR—1,281,136,274, IRR 6.75%, and a payback period of 10.8 years). This evaluation proves that the main problem in the factory is the POME used, which is insufficient, and which could be overcome by purchasing POME from other palm oil mills. Furthermore, using the mesophilic anaerobic degradation process at the study site is feasible. However, a technological shift from closed lagoons to more efficient bioreactors is urgently needed, to increase the process efficiency and economic benefits.
Path Planning for UAV Based on Improved PRM
Authors: Li Weimin , Wang Lei , Zou Awei , Cai Jingcao , He Huijuan , Tan Tielong
Published: October 2022

In this paper, an improved probabilistic roadmap (IPRM) algorithm is proposed to solve the energy consumption problem of multi-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) path planning with an angle. Firstly, in order to simulate the real terrain environment, a mathematical model was established; secondly, an energy consumption model was established; then, the sampling space of the probabilistic roadmap (PRM) algorithm was optimized to make the obtained path more explicit and improve the utilization rate in space and time; then, the sampling third-order B-spline curve method was used to curve the rotation angle to make the path smoother and the distance shorter. Finally, the results of the improved genetic algorithm (IGA), PRM algorithm and IPRM algorithm were compared through a simulation. The data analysis shows that the IGA has significant advantages over other algorithms in some aspects, and can be well applied to the path planning of UAVs.
Seepage Performance of Fibre Bundle Drainage Pipes: Particle Flow Simulation and Laboratory Testing
Authors: Zhang Sifeng , Ren Guozhang , Zhang Guojian , Ren Ziyin , Xia Chong , Gao Yuan
Published: October 2022

Mining coal, oil and other energy will form much slope engineering, such as open-pit mine slope and oil depot slope. The groundwater seepage seriously affects the stability of these slope engineering projects. Drainage pipes are commonly used in slope engineering projects to reduce the risk of moisture decreasing soil stability. Such pipes are prone to blockage by soil accumulation after a period of operation, resulting in decreased drainage or complete failure. By installing fibre bundles in drainage pipes, drainage can be maintained under soil ingress. This paper conducted particle flow simulations of the influences of soil particles on the clogging of geotextile filters and drainage pipes under various influences and estimated their seepage rates. Higher water pressure, smaller flower hole intervals in the pipe, greater soil friction angles and smaller pipe inclination angles are less conducive to drainage. Under silting conditions, the seepage and drainage performance of a drainage pipe can be improved by installing a fibre bundle. Five types of fibre bundles were tested with plastic rope providing the best drainage effect. With plastic rope and cotton rope, the best drainage is achieved using uneven arrangements of fibre bundles. In contrast, nylon rope, hemp rope and polyester rope perform best when uniformly arranged. The greater the number of fibre bundles per unit cross-sectional area of pipe, the better the seepage conductivity. Seepage is also greater when the soil in the pipe has a higher sand content. These results provide a reference for the design and construction of more reliable drainage systems for slope engineering in wet areas.
A Sensor-Based System for Dust Containment in the Construction Site
Authors: Paolucci Romina , Rotilio Marianna , Ricci Stefano , Pelliccione Andrea , Ferri Giuseppe
Published: October 2022

The problem of the containment of fine dust (especially PM 2.5 and PM 10) emitted into the atmosphere is particularly acute, especially in industrialized countries. However, there are particular areas where it is still not adequately considered. One of these is the construction site sector. The aim of this work is to design a flexible, economical, and easy-to-use system, which allows for the detection of the emissions produced in critical circumstances such as the demolition of a building. To this end, a data logger and five customized nodes were designed through a five-step method. The data logger is able to transmit data to a PC, making them available in real time. The study was conducted on a reconstruction site in L’Aquila, Italy, a city severely affected by the earthquake in 2009, for two working days and a public holiday. Even if not presenting substantial critical issues in relation to the latter, the experimental results show that the emissions of PM 2.5 and PM 10 detected during the demolition activity far exceed, in some moments, the threshold values. In fact, peaks as high as about 123 μg/m3 for PM 2.5 and over 1000 μg/m3 for PM 10 have been detected.
Optimization of the Aircraft Air/Oil Separator by the Response Surface Determined from Modeling of Three-Dimensional Two-Phase Flow
Authors: Szwarc Tomasz , Wróblewski Włodzimierz , Borzęcki Tomasz
Published: October 2022

This paper presents optimisation of the geometry of the aircraft air–oil separator (AAOS) performed to improve the device performance. For this separator type, the most important operating parameters are the oil quality, efficiency and pressure drop. In order to understand the relationships between geometric parameters and their impact on the parameters of the separator operation, an analysis was conducted using the Response Surface Method (RSM). The analysis was made based on the results of numerical simulations and using the volume-of-fluid (VOF) method. Pareto analysis was also carried out, which determined the impact of the inlet width and height and the separator diameter on the device performance. By solving the optimisation task using a genetic algorithm, it was possible to propose a new geometry for the AAOS. The favourable geometric relations for the AAOS are indicated and they are compared with those preferred for other geometries of cyclone separators.
Selected Characteristics of Municipalities as Determinants of Enactment in Municipal Spatial Plans for Renewable Energy Sources—The Case of Poland
Authors: Blaszke Małgorzata , Foryś Iwona , Nowak Maciej J. , Mickiewicz Bartosz
Published: October 2022

The article proposes methods by which an in-depth analysis of the factors determining the planning activity of municipalities for renewable energy sources can be carried out. The article aims to determine the relationship between the number of local spatial plans specifying designation for renewable energy sources and the municipality’s area, population and planning situation. All local spatial plans in Poland (a total of 104,720 plans) were analysed, distinguishing in each municipality the number of plans with designation for renewable energy sources and micro-installations (a total of 11,338 plans). Then, using quantitative methods, this data was matched with data on the municipalities’ population, area, and planning activity. At the same time, the article provides a literature review of the critical problems concerning the relationship between investments in renewable energy sources and local planning. The barriers encountered are transnational in nature. The discussion section indicates how the proposed research methods can address identified barriers. Further possible research directions are also identified. The study shows a correlation between the planning activity of municipalities in the field of renewable energy sources and both population and population density. The higher the population density (highly urbanised areas), the higher the planning activity as well, and with it, the associated planning activity for renewable energy sources. The results in this respect are spatially differentiated. The main contribution of the research is to identify the relationship between the spatial and demographic characteristics of the municipalities and the way spatial plans are approached. This research identifies how local spatial policies toward renewable energy sources can be assessed.
Introduction of Hydrogen in the Kosovo Transportation Sector
Authors: Bresa Qëndresa , Kovač Ankica , Marciuš Doria
Published: October 2022

Based on the energy strategy of the Republic of Kosovo from 2017–2026, the increase in the integration of renewable energy sources (RES) in the national energy system was aimed at. However, the hydrogen potential was not mentioned. In this work, a roadmap toward the introduction of hydrogen in the energy system, with the main focus on the transportation sector through three phases, is proposed. In the first phase (until 2024), the integration of hydrogen in the transportation sector produced via water electrolysis from the grid electricity, with the increase of up to a 0.5% share of fuel cell vehicles, is intended. In the second phase (2025–2030), the hydrogen integration in the transportation sector is increased by including renewable hydrogen, where the share of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) will be around 4%, while in the third phase (2031–2050), around an 8% share of FCEVs in the transportation was planned. The technical and environmental analysis of hydrogen integration is focused on both the impact of hydrogen in the decarbonization of the transportation sector and the energy system. To model the Kosovo energy system, the hourly deterministic EnergyPLAN model was used. This research describes the methodology based on EnergyPLAN modeling that can be used for any energy system to provide a clear path of RES and hydrogen implementation needed to achieve a zero-emission goal, which was also set by various other countries. The predicted decrease in GHG emissions from 8 Mt in the referent year 2017 amounts to 7 Mt at the end of the first phase 2024, and 4.4 Mt at the end of the second phase 2030, to achieve 0 Mt by 2050. In order to achieve it, the required amount of hydrogen by 2030 resulted in 31,840 kg/year, and by 2050, around 89,731 kg/year. The results show the concrete impact of hydrogen on transport system stabilization and its influence on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction.
Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis during Selection of Vehicles for Car-Sharing Services—Regular Users’ Expectations
Authors: Turoń Katarzyna
Published: October 2022

Car-sharing systems, i.e., automatic, short-time car rentals, are among the solutions of the new mobility concept, which in recent years has gained popularity around the world. With the growing interest in services in society, their demands for the services offered to them have also increased. Since cars play a key role in car-sharing services, the fleet of vehicles should be properly adapted to the needs of customers using the systems. Due to the literature gap related to the procedure of proper selection of vehicles for car sharing and the market need for car-sharing service operators, this work has been devoted to the selection of car models for car sharing from the perspective of users constantly using the systems (regular users). This paper considered the case of the Polish who are constantly using car-sharing service systems. Vehicle selection was classified as a multi-faceted, complex problem, which is why one of the ELECTRE III multi-criteria decision support methods was used for this study. This study focused on the classification of vehicles from the user’s perspective. Twelve modern and most popular car models in 2021 with internal combustion, electric and hybrid engines were considered. The results indicate that the best choice from the point of view of regular customers is large cars (representing vehicle classes C and D), with a large luggage compartment capacity, the highest possible ratio of engine power to vehicle weight, and the ratio of engine power to energy consumption. Importantly, small urban vehicles, which ideologically should be associated with car-sharing services due to occupying as little urban space as possible, were classified as the worst in the ranking. The results support car-sharing operators during the process of completing or upgrading their vehicle fleets.
The Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Electricity Production in New York State from Distributed Solar Photovoltaic Systems
Authors: Ali Atif , Koch Theodore W. , Volk Timothy A. , Malmsheimer Robert W. , Eisenbies Mark H. , Kloster Danielle , Brown Tristan R. , Naim Nehan , Therasme Obste
Published: October 2022

New York State’s (NYS) Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) requires that 100% of the state’s electricity supply be greenhouse gas emissions-free by 2040 and that 6000 megawatts (MW) of solar energy must be installed in NYS by 2025. This study aims to evaluate the environmental impact of electricity generation from New York State distributed solar photovoltaic systems. This cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) follows the International Standardization Organization (ISO) framework for LCA, including the goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation. The study is based on operational data from 120 existing solar installations. Global Warming Potential varies substantially by site, with the minimum and maximum impact values varying from 25.2 to 88.5 gCO2eq/kWh, and with a mean of 45.6 gCO2eq/kWh. Regression analysis shows this range is attributable to differences in site location, capacity factor, and system design (i.e., monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels, area power ratio). Based on absolute percentage, the inclusion of the end-of-life process reduces the total environmental impact from 2% in Ozone Depletion to 16% in Acidification, indicating a positive impact of engaging in end-of-life management across all categories. This analysis can help policymakers understand the implications of the solar PV installation mandate.
The Impact of Weather-Forecast-Based Regulation on Energy Savings for Heating in Multi-Family Buildings
Authors: Piotrowska-Woroniak Joanna , Szul Tomasz , Cieśliński Krzysztof , Krilek Jozef
Published: October 2022

In this study, based on 19 years of research, an analysis of thermal energy consumption for heating was carried out on a group of 22 residential multi-family buildings located in a temperate continental climate. The buildings were constructed with two different technologies based on prefabricated elements, and most of them were equipped with central heating cost allocators. A predictive control system for the central heating system was installed in the analyzed buildings, followed by a deep thermo-modernization. An evaluation was made regarding whether the use of a change in the method of central heating control, from the traditional one, which takes into account only the variable external temperature, to weather control, increases the energy efficiency of the thermo-modernized buildings. In addition, the cost-effectiveness of the modernization measures was analyzed by determining economic efficiency indicators; therefore, it was possible to identify the modernization variant that, with limited investment costs, could achieve the best energy efficiency resulting from the European energy policy.
Effect on Diesel Engine Performance Parameters Using Hydrogen and Oxygen Produced on Demand
Authors: Barreiros Robson , Siqueira-Filho Elias , Silva Alesson , De Oliveira Flávio , Barreiros Priscilla , Dimenstein Mirna , Sarubbo Leonie , Martins dos Santos Rosa , De Araújo Júnior Vanias
Published: October 2022

Hydrogen is seen as a future energy carrier since its chemical compounds make up a large part of the Earth’s surface. This study sought to analyze the impact related to the inclusion of hydrogen and oxygen gases produced on demand by an alkaline electrolyzer to the engine added directly through the fuel intake line. For this purpose, performance parameters were monitored, such as liquid fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and correlated to any effect observed on the engine’s power output and combustion behavior. A 58 kVA nominal power motor-generator was used, coupled with a resistive load bank (20 kW), where two fuel configurations were tested (diesel injection only and a mixture of diesel, hydrogen and oxygen) and compared. A total of 42 tests were performed considering both the admission gases into the fuel intake line and also diesel supply only for baseline. A substantial decrease in fuel consumption was observed (7.59%) when the blend configuration was used despite a decrease in the engine’s work (1.07%). It was also possible to see a common pattern between NO and NO2 emissions for both fuel configurations, while the behavior of the CO2 and CO emissions indicated a higher complete diesel burning fraction when using the gases on demand. Therefore, we can verify that the use of hydrogen and oxygen gases produced on demand in the fuel intake line is a promising alternative to provide a decrease in liquid fuel consumption and an overall improvement in engine combustion.