International Journal of Energy Production and Management

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Towards Effective Governance in Energy Public–Private Partnership Projects: Evidence from Myanmar’s Developing Economy

kyi zaw myint — 03-30-2026

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Evaluation of Diesel Engine Performance and Exhaust Emission Characteristics Using Biodiesel under Variable Operating Conditions

moafaq k. s. al-ghezi — 03-29-2026

As environmental concern increases and fossil fuel reserves dwindle, biodiesel has emerged as an alternative sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable fuel to supply diesel engines. Amongst the various sources of raw materials used in biodiesel production, locally sourced sunflower oil presents a viable alternative, especially in countries experiencing problems with energy security and emission reduction, such as Iraq. In this work, the performance and emissions of four-cylinder direct injection diesel engine fueled with locally made Iraqi sunflower oil biodiesel were investigated. The biodiesel was produced with a transesterified reaction, and it was evaluated in blends as B20, B50 and pure (B100) in comparison to diesel fuel under several operating conditions of speed (1250–3000 rpm) and load (4.3–90 kN/m²). Experimental results showed that the environmental impact of water injection was significant: CO emissions decreased by almost 50%, unburned hydrocarbons by 45% and carbon dioxide by 33%, without neglecting reduction of exhaust temperature and engine noise. On the other hand, the calorific value of biodiesel is lower than that for diesel and caused high Brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) up to its peak at 12% for B100. $\mathrm{NO}_{\mathrm{x}}$ increased by about 21% as a result of improved oxygen availability and higher in cylinder temperatures. Among the blends studies, B20 demonstrated promising balancing of emissions reductions and thermal efficiency with no mechanical modifications. However, some limitations remain and should be explored in further studies. It is recommended to combine durability testing, techno-economic analysis and on-road tests in the future in order to fulfill international emission control legislations and for environment-friendly application of biodiesel in Iraq power and transportation services.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis of Energy Market Mechanisms and Power System Flexibility

pilar t. parada-mayorga — 03-28-2026

The integration of variable renewable energy sources has driven research into the flexibility capabilities of power systems, which are characterized by high variability and uncertainty. Flexibility refers to a power system's ability to respond to changes in demand and generation across different time frames. This concept has been extensively studied in the literature, so the great variety of flexibility definitions and market approaches is a challenge for new stakeholders interested in the field. Establishing a market design that promotes the participation of flexible sources and ensures proper compensation is essential. This paper provides a comprehensive review of market designs proposed in the literature to enhance power system flexibility and approaches for quantifying its economic value. The study follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology for the identification, screening, and inclusion of documents, using Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus databases. After analyzing 102 papers, including 50 literature reviews, common approaches and concepts were identified and categorized into demand response, storage, market design, and other general frameworks. Among the market design proposals, the Flexible Ramp Products and Local Flexibility Markets are highlighted, along with an analysis of how to value this flexibility. This study complements existing literature by grouping the most relevant literature on power system flexibility and its valuation in energy markets, clarifying how market designs contribute to addressing renewable integration challenges—essential for future energy system planning with increased renewable energy penetration.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Robust and Fast Voltage Regulation Strategy of the Single-Ended Primary-Inductor Converter Using Modified Discrete-Time Sliding Mode Control

ali h. numan — 03-27-2026

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Review on Heat Transfer Enhancement by Internal Obstructions in Enclosed Cavities under Natural Convection

hussien aziz saheb — 03-27-2026

This review of the current literature highlights the barriers present within cavities and their contribution to heat dissipation and cooling of various activities. This study shows a set of factors that affect the function of the obstacle (shape, length, size, thickness, and location of the obstacles). The variation in boundary conditions between obstacles and cavity walls has opened up broad horizons for scientific research in the field of heat transfer (HT) and fluid flow. Despite significant progress, research gaps remain. Most previous studies have focused on simple shaped obstacles within cavities with uniform boundaries. There is a distinct lack of studies exploring the effect of complex such as U/L/H shapes or orientable obstacles within complex cavities or under dynamic conditions such as non-uniform heating or varying magnetic fields. It was found that the Nusselt number increased by 15.56% depending on the shape of the internal obstacle, which gives an advantage to some obstacle shapes over others and highlights the importance of choosing the obstacle and cavity shape so that the best HT is obtained. This study is the first to compare simple and complex shapes of obstacles, and this is the innovative point of this review.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Development of a Photoelectrochemical Cell for Hydrogen Production

sunday a. afolalu — 03-27-2026

This study presents the development and performance evaluation of a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell designed for sustainable hydrogen production, emphasizing a cost-effective and reproducible approach to clean energy generation. The PEC system was fabricated using an n-type TiO$_2$ photoanode and Pt cathode in an aqueous Na$_2$SO$_4$ electrolyte (0.5 M), operating under simulated solar irradiation of 100 mW/cm$^2$ (AM 1.5 G) within a controlled temperature range of 25–45 ℃. Experimental testing demonstrated that the system sustained hydrogen evolution through an automated electrolyte refilling and pump control mechanism, achieving 51% H$_2$ saturation within an average of 2.8 seconds over 172 activation cycles, indicating responsive system logic. However, prolonged operation led to efficiency decline, with pump activation time extending to 833 seconds and only 56% hydrogen recovery, signifying material and control degradation. The temperature monitoring subsystem malfunctioned, registering persistent –127 ℃ readings, which impeded accurate thermal regulation and safety evaluation. Sensor drift and inconsistent pump actuation were also observed, reflecting calibration deficiencies. Three operational phases were identified—initial instability (0–300 s), stabilization (300–600 s), and performance degradation ($\geq$800 s). Overall, while the PEC system demonstrates promising short-term hydrogen generation efficiency under defined light and electrolyte conditions, long-term stability remains constrained by electrode durability, thermal control accuracy, and system integration challenges, requiring further optimization for sustained hydrogen production.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Carbon Capture Technologies in Energy Conversion: Emphasis on Membrane and Hybrid Systems

dhoha abbas — 03-26-2026

Carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial producers are a major driver of global warming, leading to rising temperatures and numerous adverse impacts on ecosystems and human life. In response, various strategies have been developed to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. This review paper examines the three main stages of energy conversion for carbon dioxide capture: pre-combustion, oxy-fuel combustion, and post-combustion, with particular emphasis on the latter. Several capture techniques have been explored, including chemical and physical absorption, membranes, adsorption on porous materials, and cryogenic freezing. Among these, membrane-based methods have attracted significant attention due to their advantages in energy efficiency, operational simplicity, and potential integration with hybrid systems. Comparing the efficiency of different capture technologies, membranes achieve 85–90% efficiency at a lower cost (\$25–45/ton CO$_2$), while deep cooling technology boasts high purity ($>$99%) but comes at the cost of high energy consumption ($>$3.5 GJ/ton CO$_2$). Absorption technology, on the other hand, ranges between 90–95% efficiency at a cost of \$40–60/ton CO$_2$. Membranes have been successfully combined with absorption, desorption, and cryogenic processes to achieve higher purity in CO$_2$ capture. This study reviews twenty research papers on membrane technology, focusing on hybrid membrane systems and their performance. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is widely recognized as a key strategy for achieving climate goals by reducing carbon emissions from thermal energy production and industrial processes, while also enabling the net removal of CO$_2$ from the atmosphere.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Study the Effect of Mixture (CHF3-He) Gasses on the Electronic Transmission Parameters During the Electrical Discharge Utilizing Programmatic Computer Analysis

mohammed j. jader — 03-26-2026

This research examines The Electron Energy Distribution Function (EEDF) of electrons in plasma discharge for (CHF$_3$-He) gas combinations. The Fortran programming language was used to solve the Boltzmann equation. A two-term approximation was used to solve the Boltzmann transport equation for both pure gases and mixtures. Using this method of solution, the electron energy distribution function was computed, and electric transport parameters were evaluated with range of E/N varying from (10–600) Td. The electron energy distribution function of the CHF$_3$-He gas mixture is nearly Maxwellian at E/N values (10–20) Td, the distribution function is non-Maxwellian when E/N is raising. Also, the energy values of the mixtures largely depend on the transport energy between electron and molecule through collisions. In compared to mixtures, Helium gas has a high energy characteristic. At higher helium ratios, the mean electron energy to mixture is increasing. The mean electron energy in a gas mixture (35% CHF$_3$ + 65% He) and the behavior variation in electron mobility at this ratio both have larger values than other ratios.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Comprehensive Evaluation of Materials for Fusion Reactor Applications: A PACBDHTE Approach

haetham g. mohammed — 03-17-2026

This study introduces a new framework, PACBDHTE, designed to evaluate materials for fusion reactor applications. To provide an integrated assessment that encompasses radiation damage, hydrogen behavior, transmutation effects, and material erosion within a unified evaluation scheme. The methodology includes evaluation Displacement per Atom (DPA) calculations, hydrogen retention analysis, transmutation assessments, and erosion rate determinations. The results identified SiC and WC-Be are strong candidates due to their exceptional hydrogen retention capabilities. Tungsten-based materials are competitive, but careful consideration is needed for 316L stainless steel due to lower hydrogen retention. additionally, Cu(I)-functionalized metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), such as Cu(I)-MFU-4l, show promising selectivity for hydrogen isotope separation which can support more efficient fusion fuel-cycle management. Overall, the findings highlight erosion rates are critical for material longevity, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring. Overall, the study contributes to safe and efficient fusion energy technology.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Hydraulic Optimization and Headloss Modeling of the Penstock System in the Way Melesom Mini Hydropower Plant, Lampung, Indonesia

nicco plamonia — 03-16-2026

Mini hydropower plants (MHPs) play a vital role in providing sustainable electricity to off-grid rural communities in Indonesia. This study optimizes the hydraulic performance of the penstock system for the Way Melesom MHP in Pesisir Barat, Lampung. Using a conservative design discharge of 0.822 m³/s, derived from the F.J. Mock rainfall–runoff model and Flow Duration Curve (Q₇₀) analysis, hydraulic modeling was conducted using the Darcy–Weisbach and Hazen–Williams equations for four pipe diameters (DN400–DN700). The results show that increasing the pipe diameter reduces headloss and increases net head and power output, with diminishing efficiency gains beyond DN600. The DN600 configuration achieves an optimal balance—yielding a velocity of 2.91 m/s, headloss of 3.45 m, and a net head of 61.81 m, corresponding to an estimated output of 0.45 MW (2.76 GWh/year). This capacity can supply electricity to approximately 2,300 rural households, or up to 3,000 customers (450 VA each), supporting 10–12 small villages under an off-grid distribution network. The analysis confirms that DN600 provides the best technical–economic trade-off, recovering 95% of the gross head (65.26 m) with 90% hydraulic efficiency. The study highlights the importance of integrating hydrological, hydraulic, and energy modeling for optimizing closed-conduit systems in small-scale hydropower, ensuring both engineering efficiency and sustainable rural electrification.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Technoeconomic Assessment of Methanol Production Plant Integrated with Solar and Wind Energy Resources in Iraq

farah a. a. alkhalidi — 02-03-2026

Integration of renewable energy and waste heat resources could effectively reduce emissions and the production cost in methane production power plants. The objective of this study is to conduct a technoeconomic analysis of an Iraqi methanol production facility using a combination of energy resources of waste gas from Al-Fallujah white cement factory, solar and wind energy. It is hypothesized that the carbon dioxide present in the flue gas could be extracted using solar and wind turbine energy in a carbon capture unit in the hydrogen plant. Methanol fuel is then produced in the methanol plant from the combined sources. The amount of energy and the number of solar panels or wind turbines (WT) needed to supply this energy requirement were estimated using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES), and then the environmental impact of the methanol plant was assessed. The efficiencies of renewable energy PV, WT, methanol plants, and methanol fuel were predicted as 21%, 35%, 16.26%, and 58.72%, respectively. The electrolyzers’ efficiency was 78.2% at their ideal density of 2.2 kA/m$^2$. With a production capacity of 34,530 million tons of methanol, the total cost to operate the plant for 30 years for each of the PV plants and WT was found to be \$9.46 billion and \$5.291 billion, respectively. This translates to 0.4131 \$/kg methane for the PV plant and 0.2413 \$/kg methane for the wind power plant. In terms of the environment, there is a daily 3,894 tons of collected CO$_2$ emissions and 3,306 tons of mitigation. The results show that the current facility can compete with facilities that produce clean synthetic fuel.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Kaleidoscope Model of Lampung’s Renewable Energy Transition Policy: An Evidence-Based Reform Pathway to Regional Energy Independence

noverman duadji — 12-30-2025

Mainstream frameworks—such as the policy cycle, the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP), the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), and Technological Innovation Systems—help interpret energy transitions but often stop at theoretical narratives and remain insufficiently operational at the subnational level. This article adapts the Kaleidoscope Model (KM) (16 variables across agenda setting, design, adoption, implementation, and evaluation) into a quantified diagnosis-to-action framework directly linked to evidence-based policy (EBP) recommendations. The Lampung case study integrates thematic analysis, social network analysis (SNA), and regression to map leverage variables such as actor support, data readiness, cross-sector coordination, and elite attention. Variable scores reveal a dependence on external momentum—regulations and crises—paired with still-fragile internal capacity. Integrating the KM with EBP yields an operational policy package: the establishment of a regional energy-transition coordination body, an integrated energy data system, and performance-based fiscal incentives. The study’s main contributions are fourfold: first, operationalizing variables into measurable indicators; second, linking diagnosis to action pathways through institutional design and a policy mix; third, prioritizing interventions with quantitative evidence via SNA and regression; and fourth, enabling iterative policy recalibration. These findings provide a contextual, adaptive, and accountable roadmap for new and renewable energy (NRE) reform for regional governments.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: The Solar Tower Chimney Geometry Impact on Its Performance

leridi nadia — 12-30-2025

In this study, the effect of the collector–chimney junction geometry on the performance of a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) is investigated using numerical simulations based on a two-dimensional axisymmetric model with the standard k–ε turbulence model, coupled with the Discrete Ordinates (DO) radiation model. An SCPP with a collector diameter of 3 m and a chimney height of 3 m is considered. Several junction configurations are analyzed by varying the junction inclination angle, arc radius, and fillet radius. The results show that the junction configuration with a collector inclination angle of 20° and a fillet radius of 14 cm provides the best performance among the inclined cases, enhancing the mass flow rate by approximately 3.2% and increasing the power density by about 15% compared to the same inclination angle without a fillet. In addition, the configuration incorporating an 18 cm arc radius combined with a 14 cm fillet radius increases the mass flow rate by around 1.7% and improves the power density by approximately 7.5% compared to the corresponding arc configuration without a fillet Furthermore, a comparative analysis between configurations with and without a fillet radius reveals that the introduction of a fillet significantly improves the overall system performance, yielding increases of up to 8% in mass flow rate and about 5% in power density. These enhancements are attributed to smoother airflow transitions and more efficient inlet acceleration at the collector–chimney junction, leading primarily to improved aerodynamic performance of the solar chimney system.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Techno-Economic Feasibility and Environmental Impact Assessment of Hybrid Photovoltaic-Wind Turbine Systems for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in Indonesia

wibawa endra juwana — 12-30-2025

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Enhancement of Solar Distillation Efficiency Using Mesh Cotton Fabric: A Case Study in Kirkuk City-Iraq

sahip z. akbara — 12-30-2025

Given the extreme scarcity of water in arid regions, innovative solutions are essential to provide potable water. Among these solutions, solar desalination technology stands out, using sunlight to evaporate saltwater and then condense it to convert it into fresh water. However, conventional solar desalination systems face challenges related to production efficiency, which is affected by factors such as solar radiation intensity, wind speed, and temperature. This research aims to improve the efficiency of these systems using mesh cotton. Studies have shown that mesh cotton absorbs more sunlight, increasing the evaporation rate, while wood acts as a thermal insulator and enhances the system's efficiency. The experiment revealed a 37% increase in water production from the improved distillate. The conventional system produced 1,300 ml of distilled water per day, while the improved system produced 1,742 ml per day. These improvements indicate that the use of readily available materials can significantly improve the efficiency of solar desalination systems, helping address water scarcity in arid regions.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: An Energy Generation by Vibration Generation Using Nonlocal Functionally Graded Porous Piezoelectric Plates

enaam abdul khaliq ali — 12-30-2025

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: The Mediating Roles of Infrastructure and Innovation in the Impact of Renewable Energy Development on Local Economy and Workforce Welfare in Eastern Indonesia

rully novie wurarah — 12-30-2025

The development of abundant renewable energy resources in Eastern Indonesia presents a promising opportunity to enhance local economic conditions and workforce welfare. This study examines the relationship between infrastructure availability, innovation, and renewable energy development, with a focus on their impact on local economic performance and workforce welfare. Although previous studies have recognized that infrastructure improves regional economic performance, the direct impact of policies advocating renewable energy on employment remains unexamined. This study utilizes Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to analyze the survey responses of 170 community stakeholders involved in renewable energy initiatives from various perspectives. The findings demonstrated that the advancement of renewable energy did not substantially affect local economic conditions when evaluated as independent variables (P = 0.423). Upon the inclusion of infrastructure availability, the equation attains statistical significance (P = 0.000). The development of infrastructure has emerged as a crucial connection between renewable energy and increased employment, facilitated by enhanced market performance. The results suggest that environmentally sustainable energy policies should align with infrastructure development, offer incentives for innovation, and facilitate training to optimize their effectiveness. The study contributes to the literature by empirically demonstrating the dual mediating roles of infrastructure and innovation—dimensions that have received limited attention in previous empirical research.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Numerical Analysis of Flame Propagation Parameters for Different Fuels

hamza m. mjbel — 12-30-2025

This study presents a comprehensive numerical analysis aimed at determining the enhanced combustion rate, burning velocity, and laminar flame speed of premixed LPG/air mixtures. Different values of equivalence ratios (ER) were considered between 0.6 and 1.4. The analyses were conducted at initial conditions of 1.0 atm and 300 K inside a horizontal cylindrical combustion chamber (CCC). Simulations were performed using ANSYS Fluent and Chemkin USC Mechanics 2.0 software, which effectively predicted flame characteristics. The results indicate that the stoichiometric mixture gives the highest extended laminar flame velocity of 288.88 cm/s, followed by the lean mixture, ER = 0.6, with 84.1 cm/s, and the rich mixture, ER = 1.4, with 118.66 cm/s. The observed combustion rates of the stoichiometric, lean, and rich mixtures were 14.9, 37, and 18.5 cm/s, respectively. Also, the laminar burning velocity for pure propane and pure butane at different ERs, of 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4, were 19.4, 36.9, 45, 42.1, and 25.1 for propane mixtures, and 14.8, 29, 36.5, 33.4, and 18.4 for butane mixtures, respectively. For the same aforementioned ER, the measured laminar flame velocities were 87.55, 200.9, 274.1, 238.9, and 116.67 cm/s, respectively, and the laminar combustion velocities were 15.2, 28.7, 35.5, 33, and 18.2 cm/s, respectively, with a 2.8% gain margin. Moreover, for naphtha fuel vapors, laminar combustion velocities of 32.16, 41.2, 49.45, 46, and 28.6 cm/s for ERs of 0.6, 0.8, 1, 1.2, and 1.4. The numerical results of the ILPG (Iraq liquefied petroleum gas) show that the maximum stretched laminar flame speed reached 288.88 cm/s at ER = 1.0, while with ER = 0.6, it is 84.1 cm/s, and with ER = 1.4, it is 118.66 cm/s. Compared to ILPG, propane, and butane, Naphtha burns faster.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Mathematical Modelling and Hybrid Optimization of Thermally-Constrained Energy Distribution in Cold Logistics Networks

jonathan liviera marpaung — 12-30-2025

Cold chain logistics systems are essential for preserving temperature-sensitive goods, yet they face increasing operational and environmental challenges due to thermal constraints, dynamic delivery demands, and route uncertainties. This study proposes a hybrid soft computing approach that integrates Fuzzy Logic, Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) to optimize energy distribution within thermally-constrained logistics networks. A mathematical model is formulated to minimize a multi-objective cost function that includes total energy consumption, travel time, and penalties from temperature deviations, all subject to vehicle capacity, time window, and thermal stability constraints. The Fuzzy Logic module evaluates uncertainties related to product sensitivity and delivery urgency, assigning adaptive penalty weights to guide the GA-based global search. Subsequently, the ACO layer enhances routing solutions through pheromone-driven refinement. Simulation experiments were conducted over 20 randomized testbeds, with the proposed hybrid model consistently outperforming mono-algorithmic benchmarks. On average, the model reduced energy usage by 12.6%, lowered temperature violations by 28.3%, and increased on-time delivery rate by 15.1% compared to standard GA or ACO approaches. These results demonstrate the model’s capability to generate robust and efficient routes under real-world constraints. In practical terms, logistics providers can adopt this framework to achieve substantial cost savings, reduce spoilage of perishable goods, and enhance environmental sustainability. Moreover, the model is scalable and can be adapted to integrate IoT-based monitoring and renewable energy systems in future implementations.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: The Effect of Changing the Insulator Position in a Cylinder Consisting of Several Insulating

zainab qusay shareef — 12-30-2025

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Solar-Powered Electrification and Hydrogen Integration for Decarbonising the Glass Industry

lorenzo miserocchi — 12-30-2025

Deeper penetration of renewable energy is essential for decarbonising the glass industry, but balancing its intermittent nature with the sector’s continuous high process heat demand remains challenging. Hybrid glass furnaces offer a promising solution by combining direct electrification with fuel switching to green hydrogen. This paper quantifies the viability of increased boosting levels in hybrid furnaces, identifying threshold conditions for profitability and sustainability at an electricity-to-natural-gas price ratio of 1.5 and an electricity emissions factor of 0.3 tCO$_2$/MWh. Subsequently, it investigates the economic and environmental impact of varying solar energy availability on decarbonising the energy supply of a representative 300 t/d oxyfuel container glass furnace equipped with solar plants and electrolysers of varying sizes. In the direct integration configuration, average melting cost savings and emission reductions reach 28.1%, and 18.8% for a 1:1 ratio between nominal furnace energy demand and solar generation. In a hydrogen integration configuration, average melting cost savings and emission reductions rise to 42.5% and 48.0%, with peak cost savings of 46.5%. Full energy self-sufficiency is achieved for solar overgeneration of around 36–40%, corresponding to a solar plant and electrolyser capacity of 150 MW and 45 MW. These general guidelines are meant to provide support for the design of low-carbon glass furnaces while minimising burdens on the broader energy system.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Evaluation of Pore Space Conversion in Clayey Limestones upon Hydrogen-Methane Mixture Injection

elisaveta a. safarova — 12-30-2025

As part of the study of the possibilities of using hydrogen as an alternative energy source, in particular in aspects of its underground storage, it is necessary to evaluate its interaction with host rocks. This article describes the initial results of experimental studies on carbonate rocks, specifically clayey limestones, when injecting hydrogen together with methane under given reservoir conditions typical for underground gas storage facilities, paying special attention to the assessment of changes in the pore space. The paper compares the method of computed tomography, which analyzes discrepancies in the attenuation of X-ray radiation by various rock components, and nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation, based on the phenomenon of resonant absorption of electromagnetic field energy by matter caused by nuclear paramagnetism. As a result of the interpretation of the analysis, it was shown that the overall and effective porosity remain stable as the values decreased for the tested samples by 0.1%, which indicates that hydrogen does not significantly affect the reservoir properties. An important result was the assessment of clay porosity, according to nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation calculations, its value increased by 2 times (from 0.15% to 0.28%) after exposure in the hydrogen-methane mixture, indicating the need to control the state of the overlapping clay strata and their integrity. These initial studies can be used in oil and gas field practice.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Measurement and Performance Evaluation of Load Control in Renewable-Rich Microgrids: A Forecast-Driven PSO Approach for Maximizing PV Self-Consumption and Reducing Grid Dependency

kittipong sriamad — 12-30-2025

The increasing integration of distributed renewable resources such as photovoltaic (PV), wind, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) introduces both opportunities and challenges in managing hybrid microgrids. This study develops a forecast-integrated load control framework for a six-classroom microgrid supplied by PV, wind, BESS, Diesel Generator (DG), and the utility grid. Short-term forecasts of renewable generation and building load are embedded in a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) model to generate 15-minute scheduling decisions. The objective function minimizes grid import, peak demand, and operating cost while maintaining comfort and technical constraints. The framework was experimentally validated using IoT-enabled sensing and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)-based control at an educational facility. Results demonstrate forecasting accuracy above 92%, a 31% reduction in peak demand, a 28% increase in PV self-consumption, and a 21.5% reduction in energy costs compared with rule-based and GA-based strategies. Sensitivity and robustness analyses confirm stable performance under ±15% forecast deviation. The proposed framework provides a scalable, adaptive, and cost-effective strategy for renewable-rich microgrids, offering direct implications for smart campus and commercial energy management.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Using Barrages on the Euphrates River in Iraq to Generate Clean Electrical Power

ammar hatem kamel — 12-30-2025

In the present study, the Archimedes turbine is employed at low heads at Barrages and regulators in Anbar Province, Iraq. It is a small hydropower station that is suitable for application because it does not require high storage water (high head) in a Barrage. The 3D numerical model (ANSYS) has been employed for simulating and determining the power produced from the turbine in the Barrages. The physical model is applied to determine the optimal inclination angles of the shaft turbine (α) with a suitable water flow rate. This physical model was applied after conducting a set of tests that included different inclination angles of the shaft turbine (30°, 35°, 40°, 45°) and different discharges also reached the highest efficiency of 89.4% for the optimal angle of the model 35°. The results show Ramadi and Fallujah Barrages are the best investments in generating power because the discharges of these barrages continue throughout the year. Using Archimedes screw turbine as clean energy technology is an effective method and can be used to generate clean power without the need for large storage water because it appropriates the hydrologic conditions of the Euphrates River in Iraq. This study supports renewable energy, improves energy access, and contributes to energy efficiency and energy security for local communities.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Assessment of a Photovoltaic-Driven Pumped Hydro Storage with Multi-Pump Operation and Cascading Turbines

syafii — 12-29-2025

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Feasibility Assessment of Solar Panel Implementation for Energy Generation in the Desert Regions of Western Iraq

zuhair jaber mushref — 12-25-2025

The feasibility of utilizing solar panels for electricity generation in desert environments has been critically assessed, with a particular focus on Rutba, a city located in Anbar Governorate, western Iraq. Rutba presents a promising opportunity for solar energy investment due to its desert location and the substantial amount of solar radiation it receives, estimated at approximately 3000 hours of sunshine annually. The average daily solar radiation in Rutba is approximately 9.3 hours. The city also faces a significant deficit in electrical power, with an annual demand of 209.5 GWh, while current diesel generators provide only 52.56 GWh annually, resulting in a shortfall of approximately 156.94 GWh. In light of these challenges, the implementation of solar panels is proposed as a viable solution to mitigate the electricity shortage. The potential for solar energy to meet the city’s growing energy demands has been demonstrated, positioning Rutba as an ideal candidate for solar energy development. The study concludes that, based on the area’s solar irradiance, energy needs, and geographical conditions, Rutba is a highly suitable site for large-scale solar energy projects, offering both economic and environmental benefits.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Effect of Biosurfactants on Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Systematic Review

heydi solórzano-medranda — 10-30-2025

Oil is one of the primary sources of energy worldwide; however, its production brings environmental challenges associated with the use of conventional extraction methods. Biosurfactants have emerged as a sustainable alternative for improving efficiency in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). The objective of this research is to analyze the role of biosurfactants in EOR through a bibliometric analysis and a systematic review, identifying trends, key microorganisms, and their impact on recovery efficiency. The research methodology consisted of three phases: (i) selection of data for analysis, (ii) application of scientific metrics, and (iii) systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, focusing on contributions from the last six years. The bibliometric analysis compiled data from 1988 to 2025, with 745 academic publications indexed in the Scopus and WoS databases from 48 countries, with the main contributions coming from China, India, and Iran, attributing their dominance to state investments in research and development for energy and biotechnology innovation. The systematic review found that the most studied biosurfactants are from Pseudomonas and Bacillus, with rhamnolipids and surfactins being the most prevalent. They act through multiple mechanisms and show potential in applications involving in situ and ex situ production, with additional oil recovery rates exceeding 10% in laboratory studies.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Modeling of Energy Stored by a Pumped Storage Power Plant Using Wind Energy and Meteorological Data in Cameroon

essoumam nkanga eddy rodrigues — 10-30-2025

The particularity of renewable energy is its intermittency. One of the ways to make these sources exploitable is to propose efficient storage methods. This study develops a solution for storing wind energy, by gravity storage through water retention (wind-PSP system), and evaluates their effectiveness in the energy context of Cameroon. The methodology focuses on the use of wind energy to pump water to an upper basin. The methodological approach is based on mathematical and statistical modeling (water flows and wind distribution). These include the choice of study area using topographic data, digital terrain models applications and tools such as Google Earth, Global Positioning System (GPS), ArcGIS. The simulation model leads to an average available power of 12 MW for two water reservoirs with capacity of 95 m³ and 10 m³ whose heights are respectively 200 m and 2300 m above sea level. The field study contributes, with an experimental flow rate value of 4.42 m³/s, to support the site selection criterion due to the values in agreement with the literature. These results are encouraging and could be improved depending on the site.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Analysis of Oil and Gas Technogenesis of the Aptian-Albian-Cenomanian Hydrogeological Complex of the West Siberian Mega Basin

yulia i. salnikova — 10-30-2025

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: AI and IoT-Based Prediction and Optimization for Energy Efficiency in Campus Buildings

aryuanto soetedjo — 10-30-2025

The increasing energy demand in buildings and global warming issues have become a critical challenge that needs to be addressed. An energy management system (EMS) aims to manage energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. This paper proposes the implementation of an EMS in a campus building by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technology for prediction and energy optimization. A long short-term memory (LSTM) network is employed to predict the room environment conditions, including the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO$_2$), room temperature and humidity, outdoor temperature and humidity, and room occupancy. A genetic algorithm (GA)-based optimization method is employed to minimize energy consumption while maintaining user comfort by adjusting the room set-point temperature. The IoT-based monitoring system is used to monitor environmental parameters and power consumption in the room. The experimental results show that the proposed LSTM-based prediction achieves a low root mean square error of 50.69 ppm, 0.77°C, 1.08°C, 3.50%, 6.27% for the CO$_2$, room and outdoor temperature, room and outdoor humidity, respectively; and a high Accuracy of 0.93 for room occupancy. Additionally, machine learning techniques are proposed for occupancy modeling with high Accuracy of 0.98 and F1 score of 0.97. Furthermore, the algorithm is tested on an embedded device with a fast execution time (below two minutes), making it suitable for real-time implementation of the application.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Experimental and Numerical Optimization of Biogas Energy Production Using the RSM Method

othmane maakoul — 10-30-2025

This study aims to optimize biogas production at the laboratory scale using a batch-mode bioreactor and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The main objective is to assess the effects of key parameters substrate composition (household waste and cow manure), pH, fermentation temperature, and agitation speed on biogas yield.series of experiments were designed using a central composite RSM to evaluate the influence of substrate composition and temperature. The experimental data were analyzed through ANOVA to assess model significance and accuracy.The results show that the developed quadratic models are statistically significant, with a determination coefficient (R²) of 0.90 for cumulative biogas production. These findings confirm the adequacy of the models and the effectiveness of RSM in identifying optimal operating conditions for enhanced biogas yield.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Comprehensive Exploration of Next-Day Electricity Price Forecasting Using CNN-GRU-VAE Hybrid Model

zainab faris — 10-30-2025

The unpredictable nature of energy markets makes precise electricity price forecasting (EPF) necessary to improve bidding strategies and lower risk. For instance, this study introduces a hybrid deep learning model CNN-GRU-VAE, that learns sequences using Gated Recurrent Units (GRU), finds features using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), and becomes more general using a Variational Autoencoder (VAE). In tests that looked ahead one day, the CNN-GRU-VAE performed better than the CNN, ANN, GRU, and CNN-GRU models. The model’s Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) is 0.8733, Mean Squared Error (MSE) is 0.7627, and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) is 0.6373. These findings demonstrate improved accuracy and stability across diverse market conditions. The integration of convolutional, recurrent, and generative components within a unified framework provides superior predictions compared to traditional methods, demonstrating robustness and practical applicability for day-ahead electricity price forecasting in competitive energy markets.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Land Suitability Evaluation for Wind Power Farms in Iraq using GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Evaluation

sarah ali mustafa — 10-30-2025

In many places, including Iraq, wind energy is a cheap, sustainable resource that is also environmentally benign. Despite its substantial wind potential, Iraq continues to experience an energy deficit due to the underutilization of renewable resources. To close this gap, this study will use a multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) technique in a Geographic Information System (GIS) context to determine the best places for wind energy development in Iraq. The assessment considers several geographic elements that affect wind farm placement, such as wind speed, land slope, distance from water bodies, and proximity to power lines and key roadways. A final suitability map that highlighted locations with differing degrees of acceptability for wind energy harvesting was created by integrating these parameters. According to the results, about 31% of the research region is highly favorable to wind farms, 30% is somewhat reasonable, and 39% is unsuitable. The southern and portions of central Iraq were the most promising regions for wind energy development. These results provide a sound scientific foundation for strategic planning and investment in sustainable energy infrastructure by energy planners and decision-makers. The study helps Iraq meet its sustainable development objectives, lessen its dependency on fossil fuels, and lessen its environmental effects.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Development of Innovative Perforation Technology for Enhanced Oil Productivity in Multi-Productive Formation Fields Using Tunnel Well Perforation Methods

larisa vazhenina — 10-30-2025

The main challenge in the development of the oil and gas industry is the reduction in hydrocarbon production using traditional methods due to the increasing share of hard-to-reach oil and gas reserves in the production structure and the insufficiency and practical unfeasibility of innovative resource-efficient methods and techniques for enhancing oil productivity from heterogeneous reservoirs. The objective of this study is to develop a new hydromechanical perforation technique for enhancing oil well productivity from heterogeneous reservoirs of oil and gas fields using an innovative method called "tunnel perforation". The application of the new approach to stimulating heterogeneous reservoirs allows for a significant increase in oil production without the use of explosives. Within a single tripping operation, three technological processes are conducted simultaneously: perforation (primary and secondary), destruction of the cement sheath behind the casing, and acid treatment of the near-wellbore zone. After the completion of the acid treatment, using the initial set of downhole tools, the products of chemical reactions are extracted to the surface without associated material components. The use of tunnel perforation technology allows for effective oil and gas production for subsurface users within a single tripping operation, compared to existing technologies such as cumulative perforation. The system was implemented and tested in three oil fields in different countries, namely, Group of reservoirs A, Group of reservoirs Ach, and Group of reservoirs B. The field test results showed an increase in the reservoir's productivity by 319% for group A, 120.2% for group Ach, and 114.8% for group B.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: 3D Simulation of Thermo-Hydraulic Enhancement of Flat-Plate Solar Collector Equipped with Twisted Tape

fatima zohra bakhti — 10-30-2025

Flat plate solar collectors are widely employed in applications operating at low to moderate temperatures, including domestic water heating and various industrial uses. Their thermal performance is strongly influenced by the absorber tube, through which solar energy is transmitted to the circulating fluid. Conventional designs are often limited by low convective heat transfer, which has motivated studies on geometric enhancements to improve overall efficiency. The present work examines the thermo-hydraulic characteristics of a flat plate solar air collector fitted with twisted tape inserts having various twist ratios ($\delta$ = 3, 4, 5, 6), and compares the results with a plain tube collector. Air serves as the working fluid, and simulations were carried out over a Reynolds number range of 200–2000. A three-dimensional CFD approach was employed to study critical performance characteristics, including outlet temperature, Nusselt number, friction factor, pumping power, and thermal efficiency. The results show that twisted tape collector (TTC) provide considerably greater heat transfer compared to the plain collector (PC). At Re = 1000, the Nusselt number enhancement reached 35.19%, 44.55%, 50.15%, and 54.96% for twist ratios $\delta$ = 6, 5, 4, and 3, respectively. Although this improvement is associated with increased pressure drops, the findings confirm that twisted tape inserts substantially enhance the heat transfer effectiveness of solar collectors by promoting turbulence and better fluid mixing.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: The Effect of Cover Cooling and Solar Collector Integration on the Productivity of a Double-Slope Solar Still

wando simanullang — 10-30-2025

While solar still technology offers a sustainable solution to freshwater scarcity, its practical application is often limited by low productivity. This study aims to enhance the water production of a double-slope solar still through the simultaneous implementation of a glass cover cooling mechanism and a flat-plate solar collector. Three configurations were experimentally compared: a conventional solar still (SSC), a solar still with cover cooling (SST1), and a solar still integrating both cover cooling and a solar collector (SST2). Experimental results show that SST2 achieved lower glass cover temperatures than the SSC and higher water temperatures than the SST1, thereby accelerating both evaporation and condensation rates. Quantitatively, the SST2 configuration yielded a freshwater productivity of 2092 g/m², a significant increase of 147% compared to the SSC. Furthermore, its energy efficiency reached 44.53%, in contrast to 27.38% for SSC and 27.27% for SST1. Economically, SST2 demonstrated the lowest freshwater production cost at $0.082/(L·m²). These findings rigorously prove that the simultaneous use of cover cooling and a solar collector is a highly effective strategy for increasing the productivity and improving the economic viability of solar stills.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Dynamic Second-skin Façade Systems: Numerical Energy Performance and Life Cycle Assessment of 3D-printed Panels in a Norwegian Case Study

luigi tufano — 10-30-2025

In a global context where buildings account for approximately 30% of final energy demand and 26% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, improving the building envelope is a key strategy for achieving sustainability goals. This study investigates the energy, environmental and visual performance of a dynamic Second Skin Fac¸ade (SSF) system applied as a passive retrofit solution for a typical office building located in Trondheim, Norway. The SSF integrates adaptive technologies and is composed of 3D-printed panels in Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA): solid panels for opaque walls and perforated panels for windows. A simulation-based methodology using TRNSYSsoftware was implemented to compare the performance of the retrofitted building against a reference case. Additionally, a gate-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment was performed to assess the environmental impact of the 3D-printed components. Results highlight a reduction in primary energy demand by up to 25.5% and an annual decrease of approximately 1.4 tCO_2eq, particularly when the dynamic shading control is based on vertical solar radiation. Although the Global Warming Potential of ASA panels is higher than that of conventional materials, the local production and Norway’s low-carbon electricity grid contribute to a favorable environmental profile. The f indings underline the potential of 3D printing for adaptive envelope solutions.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Electromechanical Modeling and Optimization of Piezoelectric Sustainable Energy Harvesters Under Vehicle Loads on Roads

mohanad s. sehen — 10-30-2025

This research is devoted to the electromechanical properties of axle mount devices with piezoelectric elements and their performance under various loading conditions. It performs a complex computational simulation of the interaction between mechanical energy and electrical generation. In the study, the research team examined the technical aspects and scale-up issues of integrating piezoelectric energy harvesting networks into conventional roads. The function of piezoelectric material in car wheels, which senses patient head movement and stability via pressure, is covered in the study. Important considerations include the material’s size, voltage, and Deformation. The extracted materials’ power frequency ranges from 62 Hz to 80 Hz, with 80 Hz used for mechanical energy extraction. The COMSOL 6.3 Multiphysics program was used as a simulation program. The research studies the association of piezoelectric materials, as well as power car tires, concentrating on their mechanics, electronic components, and thermal properties. The study shows that the pulse electric value is proportional to material thickness, voltage, and strain. Being a function of strain and electric power, the electromotive force, mechanical power, and electric power also change with increasing frequency. The temperature dynamics of piezoelectric mechanisms rely heavily on the resistance of the material, which results in a temperature rise that, in turn, produces an input voltage and electron movement. The 1e9 ohm resistance is the best choice, as it provides increased current flow and an electrical potential of 0.7 volts.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Assessing On-Site Renewable Energy Potential for Parmigiano Reggiano Production

lorenzo miserocchi — 10-30-2025

This study investigates the potential of renewable energy integration within the context of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production. Using real data from dairy plants and farms, advanced approaches for proper energy management are illustrated, including performance indicators for energy benchmarking, the disaggregation of loads for energy efficiency opportunities identification, and the identification of energy demand patterns energy use optimization. The study proposes guidelines for quantifying the potential from solar and biomass energy sources, with a focus on energy self-sufficiency and resource valorization. This is illustrated with regard to a medium-sized dairy farm with a specific energy consumption of 64 kWh/t and 10 kWh/t of milk, respectively. The analysis shows that photovoltaic self-production rate decreases with plant size but can be enhanced to 88% through the integration of energy storage systems. Biogas production can entirely supply the farm’s electricity needs, while further valorization of digestate can provide an additional 79% which could be used to meet the energy demands of a corresponding dairy plant (55 kWh/t of electricity and 100 kWh/t of heat). This study demonstrates that state-of-art technologies can substantially cover the energy requirements of dairy operations, and that more advanced systems can support the achievement of full energy self-sufficiency.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Electric Load Forecasting and Management in Smart Grids Using Optimized Long Short-Term Memory Network: A Real-World Evaluation

falah dakheel — 10-30-2025

To enhance the efficiency and stability of modern smart grids, accurate short-term electricity demand forecasting is essential. The objective of this study is to present the use of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to predict electrical load based on high-resolution, real-world data from the Belgian Elia grid, sampled at 15-minute intervals. The methodology includes data preprocessing, temporal feature extraction, sequence generation, and model optimization. Exploratory data analysis highlights important consumption patterns and seasonal variations. The LSTM model effectively captures both short-term fluctuations and long-term dependencies, achieving an RMSE of 119.41 MW, a MAPE of 1.30%, and an R² score of 0.992 on the test set. Compared to alternative forecasting approaches, including more complex hybrid architectures, the LSTM model demonstrates superior accuracy and generalization capability. For instance, compared with ARIMA-LSTM models that reported a MAPE of 2.83% and CNN-LSTM models with 2.72%, the proposed model achieves markedly better performance. These findings support the integration of LSTM-based forecasting systems into smart grid operations for real-time energy management.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Renewable Energy Communities in Developing Countries

rachele schiasselloni — 10-30-2025

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Comprehensive Review and Analysis of Soiling Detection Technologies in Solar Panels

hussein kaya — 06-29-2025

Soiling, defined as the accumulation of dirt, dust, and other particles on the surface of photovoltaic (PV) panels, is a significant issue that substantially impacts solar panel efficiency and performance. This accumulation leads to energy losses and decreased electricity output. Numerous research papers have proposed various systems to address this issue. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent publications on soiling detection in solar panels. The review methodology includes literature retrieval, screening, content analysis, and bibliometric analysis, utilizing the Scopus database to compile a final selection of 75 papers. This review identifies gaps in previous research, such as the need for more robust and cost-effective detection systems and the integration of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and remote sensing. Key findings highlight that deep learning models and advanced sensor technologies show promising results in improving soiling detection accuracy. The review also suggests potential areas for future work, emphasizing the development of innovative inspection tools, models, and cleaning systems that can enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Enhanced Heat Transfer Performance in Tubes Using Double-Twisted Tapes with Integrated Triangle Winglets

mohammed jameel alsalhy — 06-29-2025

This research examines the impact of twisted tapes (TT), both with and without triangular-winglet obstructions positioned at different attack angles (30°, 45°, and 60°), on thermal and flow dynamics within a circular tube under steady heat flux conditions. The TT is 22.5 mm wide (w) and 100 mm long (y). The investigation is undertaken for Reynolds numbers (Re) ranging from 5000 to 25000. We looked at four winglet height ratios (HR): 0.18, 0.145, 0.1, and 0.07. The results show that the winglet attack angle of 60° gives the biggest boost to the Nusselt number (Nu) compared to the other setups, with a clear improvement. The 60° angle caused the Nu to go up by 13% compared to the 30° configuration and by 21% compared to the 45° configuration. Also, at Re = 5,000, the 60° winglet angle had the best overall thermal performance factor (η = 1.80), followed by the 45° (η = 1.76) and 30° (η = 1.69) arrangements. The tube with simply TT and no winglets, on the other hand, had the worst overall performance, with η = 1.53.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Improving Predictions of Renewable Energy Systems with the Application of Machine Learning Integrated with Explainable AI

rana abd el-hamied haj khalil — 06-29-2025

Renewable energy installations are rising at a fast pace because societies r./uire both emission reduction and alternative clean energy sources. Policymakers, together with industry stakeholders, find it troublesome to use traditional energy prediction models because these systems operate without clarity and fail to handle intricate market systems properly. This research solves these issues through a machine learning (ML) model prediction of renewable energy use. Then, it enhances predictions through explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) methods to achieve better accuracy and trustworthiness. Our analysis includes multiple ML algorithms from the ensemble category consisting of Random Forests (RF) and Gradient Boosting in addition to advanced boosting algorithms XGBoost and Light Gradient Boosting Machines (GBM). Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME) reveal the decision-making procedures during predictions while delivering understandable explanations about the model's conduct to users. The methodology adopts a thorough model testing methodology using extensive datasets, which include multiple variables related to renewable energy consumption, including economic metrics and environmental aspects. Researchers obtained predictive performance excellence with interpretability benefits from their models in predicting renewable energy usage. The Light GBM model delivered 97.40% accuracy when analyzing data, while the LIME process showed GDP growth and electricity access as key determining variables. XAI integration in renewable energy forecasting presents important progress that livers enhanced, transparent yet actionable energy predictions that build trusted reliability for use in the industry. The study demonstrates the power of uniting ML with XAI techniques for better comprehension of renewable energy patterns, which enables better decisions for sustainable energy development.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Energy-Saving Behavior in Workplaces: A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis

i gede mahatma yuda bakti — 06-29-2025

Promoting individual energy-saving behavior is crucial to addressing environmental challenges and advancing sustainable development. While this topic has been explored in the existing literature, research specifically examining energy-saving behavior in workplaces (ESBW) through a bibliometric analysis remains scarce. This study aims to fill this gap by conducting a bibliometric approach using performance analysis and science mapping techniques to evaluate and synthesize research on ESBW. A comprehensive search strategy was employed to extract relevant documents published in the Scopus database. The collected data were analyzed using VOSviewer and RStudio software. A total of 194 documents were identified as scientifically published in this field from 2005 to 2024. The analysis highlights the most prolific sources, authors, countries, and articles. Furthermore, based on keyword co-occurrence analysis, this study found the main thematic clusters of ESBW, including energy-saving related to behavioral theories, motivational and social factors promoting sustainability, energy conservation in the workplace, and occupant behavior connected with energy efficiency. The theoretical foundation can benefit future research in developing effective policies and strategies to encourage energy-saving practices in workplace environments.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: The Role of Smart Technologies in Enhancing Building Energy Efficiency in the Era of Climate Change

khalid a. karoon — 06-29-2025

The urgent need for a more responsive built environment in the era of climate change has driven architects, researchers, and construction professionals to adopt integrated design solutions that utilize various technologies to improve buildings' energy performance. This effort aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, whose combustion significantly contributes to climate change. Notably, the building sector consumes approximately 41% of electrical energy, with most of this energy used for ventilation, cooling in summer, heating in winter, and artificial lighting. This comparative study employs a descriptive methodology, gathering information about energy sources, their types, and their impact on the construction sector. Additionally, it analyses architectural projects that have adopted smart envelopes as a remedial measure to combat climate change. The research then explores modern treatments for contemporary building envelopes and their transformation into smart envelopes by elucidating the concept of intelligence within these systems. Experiments implementing these methods in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are reviewed, highlighting the benefits and lessons learned. The study emphasizes the impact of renewable energies and their integration with the building envelope, as well as negative treatments at the envelope level that contribute to isolating the building from external environmental conditions. The findings provide a comprehensive description of how different variables affect the energy performance of buildings.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Leveraging Machine Learning Models for Accurate Global Solar Irradiance Prediction in Jerusalem, Palestine

husain alsamamra — 06-29-2025

Solar energy for power generation has increased significantly due to population growth and economic expansion. Solar irradiance is a primary determinant of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. However, high-quality ground-based solar irradiance measurements remain scarce. Accurate prediction of global solar irradiance has become essential for grid distribution, financial planning, performance assurance, operational efficiency, and safety in solar PV systems. In this study, various Machine Learning (ML) algorithms—including Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting (GB), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Decision Tree (DT), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Linear Regression (LR), were employed to predict solar irradiance in Jerusalem, Palestine. Data was collected from a meteorological station in Jerusalem over a one-year period, from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. Eight critical features influencing solar irradiance prediction were collected and analyzed, including diffuse irradiance, direct irradiance, mean temperature, pressure, relative humidity, wind speed, and wind direction. The models' accuracy was assessed using the coefficient of determination (R2), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), relative Root Mean Square Error (rRMSE), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). The results indicate that the RF model achieved the highest accuracy in predicting solar irradiance, with metrics of R2=0.90, RMSE=104.58 W/m2, rRMSE=0.24, and MAE=63.29 W/m2.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Optimization of Bioethanol Production from Unripe Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) Pulp Starch Using Response Surface Methodology

chizoma nwakego adewumi — 06-29-2025

Bioethanol can only continue as a viable cleaner alternative to fossil fuels by utilizing abundant, renewable, and eco-friendly feedstocks with high conversion efficiencies or by developing technologies that enhance efficiency and reduce inhibition. This study aims to compare the potential of producing bioethanol from Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (AHL) pulp starch with cassava (CAS) starch. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the process conditions in acid and enzymatic hydrolysis for optimum reducing sugar and ethanol yield. The study demonstrated that AHL performed better than CAS in the enzymatic process with an optimum reducing sugar yield of 80.22 g/L compared to 70.61 g/L obtained for CAS. The conversion efficiencies for AHL and CAS at an optimum condition of 120 amylase and 310 amyloglucosidase unitg-1 starch were 91.2% and 80.24%, respectively. Consequently, in the acidic process, an optimum sugar yield was achieved at 0.5 M H2SO4, 45 mins hydrolysis time and 121℃. Under these conditions, AHL sugar yield was 19.05 g/L with 34.64% conversion efficiency while CAS produced 22.48 g/L with 40.87% conversion. The results of the ethanol yield obtained in both hydrolytic processes showed that AHL compared very favorably with CAS. Though AHL is characterized by higher amylose content (28.90) than CAS (20.43) which would easily hinder enzyme accessibility during hydrolysis, its type-A crystal structure paved the way for its starch to be easily assessed by the α-enzymes. Hence, this study provided a suitable, efficient and sustainable substitute to cassava or other first-generation feedstock for bioethanol production.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Fuzzy Control of Hybrid Power System to Improve Power Quality

wafeeqa abdulrazak hasan — 06-29-2025

This paper proposes a Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid (HMG) system comprising a wind energy control system (WECS), a photovoltaic (PV) system, and a battery system. Because microgrids emit fewer carbon gases and may be connected to the utility grid, researchers are finding them more and more appealing. The HMG increases system efficiency and power quality by reducing multiple reverse conversions. The VSC system functions as a DC/AC bus control system and employs used bacteria foraging optimization (BFO) algorithm to adjust the proportional integral (PI) controller settings to reduce AC and DC switching. Furthermore, for the battery energy storage system (BESS) and wind turbine speed regulation utilize two PI controllers. Lastly, the maximum power point (MPP) of the PV system was investigated using perturbation and observation (P&O), incremental conductance (IC), fuzzy logic controller (FLC), and maximum power point tracking (MPPT). The FLC technique showed the benefit of attaining the finest outcomes, specifically power (99.68 kW) and efficiency (99.84%). The results show that the suggested approach works well for accomplishing the primary goals of the hybrid microgrid. The simulations in this study were carried out using MATLAB/Simulink.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Comprehensive Review of Building Integrated Photovoltaic and Thermal Systems (BIPV/T)

samah mehira — 06-29-2025

The increasing worldwide energy requirements, combined with sustainable urban growth, drive the need for inventive building technologies. Building integrated photovoltaic and thermal systems (BIPV/T) generate both electricity and thermal energy while enabling nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEBs) to achieve their energy goals. Our analysis examines the technological, economic, and environmental aspects of BIPV/T systems and their application within building elements such as roofs, facades, and glazing areas. The review also examines supportive policy frameworks for BIPV/T implementation while pinpointing adoption barriers like steep initial investments and incomplete regional policies. The present review is based on a systematic literature review from January 2010 to March 2025 from the Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore databases. A search string consisting of the combination of the keywords building integrated photovoltaic and thermal systems (BIPV/T), nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEBs), solar technologies, Aesthetic and Architectural Integration, Energy Efficiency, and Building codes. A total of 75 articles were selected after screening and eligibility assessment. This study seeks to provide guidance for researchers, architects, and policymakers to progress BIPV/T integration towards sustainable urban development.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Hybrid Power Plant Prototype for Hill Areas: Integrating Solar and Wind Energy with Auto Switching and Monitoring Technology

periyadi — 06-29-2025

Indonesia’s tropical climate and hilly terrain offer significant potential for renewable energy, particularly solar and wind. This study presents a hybrid power plant prototype integrating solar and wind energy, equipped with an Arduino Mega-based Auto Switching system and a web-based monitoring application. The system optimizes energy use by prioritizing solar energy during the day and wind energy at night. Key components include GY-49 lux sensors, anemometers, voltage sensors, charger controllers, batteries, and inverters. Experimental results show effective source switching, with solar energy achieving a maximum voltage of 21.65 V at 65,058.8 lux and wind energy producing 0.79 V at 16 m/s. However, wind energy output is insufficient for direct battery charging, indicating a need for turbine design optimization. The web-based monitoring system ensures real-time performance tracking, enhancing system reliability. This prototype offers a sustainable energy solution for hilly regions with limited grid access, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Combustion of Granulated Solid Fuels and Wood and Domestic Waste Processing: A Comprehensive Review

ashraf abdulla ahmed — 06-29-2025

Biomass, as a separate type of granulated solid fuel, ranks third in terms of the share of generated electricity and in a number of countries is the main type of fuel in the production of thermal energy. Made for home heating systems, but might work in commercial and industrial settings as well. Fuels such as sawdust, wood chips, and wood mill waste, as well as recycled wood from disassembled pallets or furniture, often have a high energy density (16-19 MJ/kg), and their ash level varies depending on the kind of fuel. However, burning these fuels poses environmental challenges such as air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This work focuses on the state of production of granular solid fuels, including their types and potential applications. To understand the underlying phenomena and chemistry of combustion, as well as to design and run different combustion devices to enhance the conversion efficiency of these fuels into energy. The main study area centered on a granulation process, whereas fines are agglomerated into larger granules for better handling and combustion characteristics. It evaluates the current technology approaches employed in producing and utilizing these fuels as a granulator for domestic waste. The evidence also points to the importance of understanding the combustion processes desired for optimization, lessening environmental impacts, and the importance of pyrolytic processes in transforming solid particles that determine total combustion efficiency.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Solar Energy Harvesting and Storage Optimization Using Machine Learning

elizabeth o. amuta — 06-29-2025

The study uses embedded machine learning (ML) to focus on solar energy harvesting and storage optimisation. The research investigated environmental parameters, input features, including temperature, relative humidity, target variable, month and day, and solar surface radiation. A dataset for 5 years was used. An ML algorithm was employed for the study, and the linear regression feedforward neural network (FFNN) was used. The normal root mean squared (nRMSE) and R-squared (R2) scores were used as criteria to evaluate the model's performance. A solar tracker system, built with Arduino and ESP32 microcontrollers, maximises energy collection. The system harnesses the power of solar panels to convert sun radiation into electrical energy, which is then stored in a 3.7 V rechargeable battery. This battery powers the sensors, ensuring continuous operation. The root mean squared error (RMSE) value was 80.48 W/m², which measures the typical prediction error and optimises energy harvesting. The R2 of 0.896 shows the model experiences ~90% of the solar irradiance variability data. The higher R2 ensures the model reliably captures environmental parameters critical for adjusting solar panels and maximising energy efficiency. The research's practical implications show that we can have a high uptime for solar power systems, close to 24 hours. Embedded ML can enhance renewable energy management.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Electricity Price Forecasting and Chiller Plant Energy Optimization for Bidding in the Electricity Market

kunal shejul — 06-29-2025

The smart-grid-enabled demand-side energy management is used to regulate consumer energy demand. The consumer can adjust their energy consumption in response to the pricing strategy of the grid in the market-based programs. The energy bidding methodology is proposed to predict the electricity rate and optimize the energy demand of the chiller system for energy consumption and cost minimization. The forecasted electricity price and the energy demand schedule generated by the optimization algorithm are used to bid in the electricity market. To forecast the electricity rate, a hybrid model Hilbert Transform-Based Long Short-Term Memory (Hilbert-LSTM) is proposed and the results indicate the improvement in the prediction accuracy in terms of the Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The energy consumption is optimized in the dynamic electricity tariff to generate an optimal energy demand schedule. The bid electricity price is calculated for three different cases and the bidding cost and bidding reliability for the optimized energy demand schedule are compared. The results show that the bidding cost is reduced by 37% and bidding reliability is the highest for the proposed electricity forecasting model Hilbert-LSTM.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: The Impact of Engine Speed on Performance and Emission Characteristics of Engine Fueled with Diesel-Water Emulsion

louay a. mahdi — 06-29-2025

Many studies have suggested various techniques to replace fossil fuel, including diesel, whose combustion emits exhaust pollutants which in turn lead to a risk to the environment and public health. The combustion of water-diesel emulsions can emit fewer exhaust pollutants when fueled by a diesel engine. In Iraq, Iraqi crude oil is characterized by a high percentage of sulfur in it, which makes all its derivatives contain sulfur percentages. Iraqi diesel sulfur content ranges from 1% to 2.5%. Sulfur causes an increase in some dangerous pollutants, such as sulfur oxides. If these oxides combine with the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and unburned hydrocarbons in the atmosphere, they will cause smog clouds with significant health and environmental risks. In this experimental study, the performance of a diesel engine was investigated at constant load and variable speed of the engine, using three types of emulsions (water-diesel). Brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) is reduced when working with 10% and 20% water emulsions. In contrast, 30% of water emulsion consumption was increased. The NOX emissions declined by 14%, 16%, and 29% for emulsions 10%, 20%, and 30% water added to diesel, respectively. As for hydrocarbons, they decreased by 1% and 9.3% in the case of adding 10% and 20%. Hydrocarbon levels increased by about 33.6% when 30% water was added to diesel. Experiments have shown that both NOX and PM decrease together when using 10% and 20% emulsions.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Design and Performance Testing of a Solar Power Generation System (SPGS) for a Smart Greenhouse with Tower Hydroponic Support

renny eka putri — 06-29-2025

This study presents the design and implementation of a solar power generation system (SPGS) to harness solar energy as an alternative power source for greenhouse operations. The system is developed to support vertical hydroponic crop cultivation while operating independently through an off-grid configuration. The specific objectives of this research are to optimize the energy efficiency of the SPGS, ensure the reliability of power supply for hydroponic operations, and evaluate the system's effectiveness in supporting sustainable agricultural practices. The SPGS utilizes solar panels to convert solar radiation into direct current (DC), which is stored in batteries or converted to alternating current (AC) to power various loads. The results showed that the SPGS operated effectively and was capable of supplying consistent energy to the greenhouse. The highest recorded solar irradiance was 1072.82 W/m², resulting in a voltage of 42.8 V and current of 6.9 A. The maximum power output reached 295.32 W, with the solar panel system achieving an efficiency of 18.72%. The combination of a solar energy system specifically created and fine-tuned for greenhouse use, along with a vertical hydroponic system. This research offers a customized energy approach that guarantees effective energy collection, storage, and delivery, perfectly aligned with the fluctuating energy needs of a greenhouse setting.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Inhibitors for Corrosion by H2S and the Effects on Oil Pipelines: Bibliometric Analysis

alex zambrano acosta — 03-30-2025

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) corrosion is a significant problem in the oil industry. It affects pipeline integrity and generates high maintenance and repair costs. This work aims to evaluate global trends and the effectiveness of different types of H2S corrosion inhibitors applied in oil pipelines through bibliometrics and a systematic review, analysing their future implications for developing anticorrosion strategies during the last decade. This process was developed in three phases: (i) baseline data and focusing, (ii) scientific metrics, and (iii) literature review using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) method. The results show sustained growth in publications, focusing on green inhibitors and nanotechnology-based technologies that achieve efficiencies of more than 90% in the laboratory. However, gaps persist in field validation and designing multifunctional composites for extreme environments. These findings suggest prioritising applied research into new self-healing materials and coatings, as well as industrial-scale evaluation protocols to optimise the protection of critical infrastructure in the oil industry.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Transmission Line Expansion Planning in a Deregulated Environment

a. purna chander — 03-30-2025

India's power sector is witnessing unprecedented growth, driving the need for increased generation capacity. To support this demand, a robust and efficient transmission system is essential. As the construction of new transmission lines becomes more frequent, it is vital to optimize their design to remain profitable in a deregulated market. This paper presents a cutting-edge method for optimal transmission expansion planning, utilizing the MW-KM method and a Cost/Benefit index for enhanced optimization. The proposed approach effectively identifies the most economically viable expansion strategies. Additionally, the paper explores the use of High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) conductors as a strategic solution in scenarios where traditional methods are either costly or hindered by Right of Way challenges (RoW). This holistic approach ensures that India’s growing energy needs are met with both efficiency and cost-effectiveness. In this paper, a case study on the 5-bus system test system carried out and income of each line calculated on MW-KM method, the number of new transmission lines required is decreased to three from seven by using cost benefit analysis and increased the avg line revenue of the system by 25%. The RoW issues of the planned system successfully addressed in this paper.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Harnessing Ocean Wave Energy to Assess Oscillating Water Column Efficiency in Indonesian Waters

restu arisanti — 03-30-2025

Population growth and technological development are fueling the increasing demand for electricity in Indonesia. By 2023, electricity consumption in Indonesia has reached 1,285 KWH, mostly met by non-renewable energy. This condition raises concerns about the sustainability of energy supply. On the other hand, Indonesia has great potential to utilize ocean wave energy as a source of electricity. The novelty of this research lies in the Generalized Linear Model-based Gamma Regression modelling approach to evaluate the electrical energy potential of ocean wave energy in 175 Indonesian waters. The focus of this research lies on the specific analysis of the impact of wave type on power potential, while wind speed and weather factors have no significant influence. In addition, the selection of the best model was conducted using the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) approach, which shows that the model predictions are getting closer to the actual values. The results show that low and medium wave types significantly reduce the power potential compared to calm waves, by 0.0000083% and 0.0000113%, respectively. These findings make an important contribution to understanding the potential of ocean wave energy as a renewable energy source in Indonesia.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Prediction Model Based on Neural Networks to Optimize Thermal Efficiency and Emission Control in Firetube Boilers

serapio quillos-ruiz — 03-30-2025

This study addresses the critical challenge of enhancing thermal efficiency in industrial firetube boilers within the fishing industry, a sector burdened by significant fuel consumption and associated costs amidst rising fuel prices; achieving even marginal improvements in boiler efficiency can result in substantial economic savings and environmental benefits. Utilizing the Peruvian technical standard for efficiency determination, alongside recommendations from boiler manufacturers and operational conditions, this research employs artificial neural networks (ANNs) to model and predict efficiency outcomes based on various operational parameters, including fuel type and combustion conditions specifically, the study explores the impact of excess air and fuel regulation on thermal efficiency and pollutant emissions, employing applied research methods and a comprehensive analysis of boiler operation at 80% and 100% load conditions. Results demonstrate the capability of neural network models to accurately predict thermal efficiency, with optimized configurations achieving significant reductions in CO₂ and CO emissions by 43% and 55%, respectively. The findings underscore the potential for neural network applications in optimizing boiler operations, offering a pathway to economic and environmental improvements in industrial processes. The study concludes with optimal operational parameters that balance efficiency gains with emission reductions, highlighting the practical implications for the fishing industry and beyond.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Thermoelectric Characteristics of Bi₂S₃-Based Sandwich Materials

riyadi muslim — 03-30-2025

Thermoelectric are a very interesting source of electrical energy. There is a lot of exploration about the use of thermoelectric and the potential that exists. Thermoelectric materials are of particular concern to obtain better efficiency. This research aims to investigate the performance of a novel thermoelectric generator (TEG) design based on Bi₂S₃ sandwich materials through numerical investigation. Key focus areas include power output, efficiency, compatibility for future applications, and temperature distribution characteristics. Data shows that this design has increased efficiency by 4.2%. When performing experimental setup, it is important to offer more reliable data quality, these simulation results offer a pre-plenum data approach to minimize omissions.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Crude Oil and Economic Performance: Multicollinearity Corrected Approach

olumide sunday adesina — 03-30-2025

This study investigated the activities surrounding crude oil and its impact on the economic performance of Nigeria. Therefore, some economic variables surrounding crude oil in Nigeria was analysed. Most multivariate economic variables suffer the problem of multicollinearity, though often not tested or sometimes ignored by researchers. The presence of multicollinearity among predictor variables often leads to bias estimate. In this study, explorative data analyses were conducted on the data of petroleum variables and gross domestic product and modelled using the Cobb-Douglas Production Function. Multicollinearity was detected in the full model and corrected. The results showed that Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) have a significant positive relationship with crude oil Revenue and petroleum to GDP in the full model. The crude oil consumption, and Petroleum to GDP significantly impact the RGDP in the reduced model. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that the government implement policies to preserve and manage the oil sector effectively to encourage international trade and increase revenue at the same time make petroleum products available for local use in line with sustainable development goals (SDGs) 7, to ensure that there is affordable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: An Empirical Analysis of the Impact of Industry, Service Sectors, Urbanization, Exports, and Inflation on Energy Consumption: The Static and Dynamic Panel Model Approaches

rosdiana sijabat — 03-30-2025

Investigating energy use is critical because it addresses the decreasing energy supply. The majority of global energy use is nonrenewable, with much of it coming from fossil fuels emitting greenhouse gases. As a result, energy consumption research is vital for understanding energy usage trends and developing methods to reduce energy use or employ renewable energy sources. This study investigates the impact of industry, service sectors, urbanization, exports, and inflation on energy consumption in a panel of 38 nations from 2019 to 2023. Based on the static panel approach, the key findings of the Pool model reveal that the industrial and service sectors have a positive and significant impact on energy consumption, emphasizing the vitality of these sectors as major energy users. The Fixed Effects model (FEM) suggests that the industrial and service sectors have a significant and negative impact on energy usage. Furthermore, the FE model reveals that urbanization and export significantly and negatively impact energy consumption. In the Pool model, inflation is associated positively with energy consumption. The dynamic panel approach additionally suggests that the industrial and service sectors significantly impact energy consumption in the investigated countries. Exports have a significant and negative impact on energy consumption. The CPI, a measure of inflation, significantly and positively impacts energy consumption. The findings of this study provide helpful policy recommendations for identifying the significant variables influencing world energy consumption. Policymakers in the examined countries must promote energy consumption efficiency initiatives and shift to renewable energy sources.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Waste to Wealth by Oil Blending from Restaurants Waste and Mixing with Diesel and Butanol to Improve the Ternary Fuel Characteristics

tolin s. othman — 03-30-2025

The demand for vehicles has increased significantly in the last two decades as a result of the rise in the global population and improved living capacity. The popularity of using products from bio-based sources has also increased due to the need to reduce air pollution resulting from burning fossil fuels while maintaining or increasing the efficiency of engines. In this study, biodiesel (produced from restaurant waste oil) with small amounts of butanol alcohol was added to conventional Iraqi diesel and tested. Adding butanol as a low-dose stimulant to the diesel-biodiesel mixture to improve engine performance and eliminate pollutants is a modern method that has not yet been approved and requires many studies before it is accepted as a vehicle fuel. The engine showed good performance when operating with the proposed mixtures under different load conditions. The D90W5B5 mixture provided the highest cylinder pressure, which was superior to diesel. The tested blends, D90W5B5, D80W10B10, D70W15B15, and W100, caused a decrease in NOx emissions compared to diesel by 16.57%, 25.48%, 33.14%, and 39.76%, respectively. As well as reduced the total suspended particles by 19.1%, 22.02%, 34.66% and 49.7%, respectively. One of the most important results obtained is that these mixtures reduced the Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) emissions by 3.9%, 8.66%, 10.98%, and 97.7%, for the first pollutant and by 6.15%, 8.89%, 15.57%, and 97.8%, for the second one, respectively.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Comparative Analysis of Forecasting Models for Solar Wind Patterns: A Focus on Smoothing CNN-LSTM and a Hybrid Approach

p. abirami — 03-30-2025

In this era of innovation, numerous researchers are striving to combat global warming and transform our planet into a greener and more sustainable environment. Their efforts focus primarily on reducing the release of harmful gases produced by conventional energy sources. This challenge can be mitigated by harnessing abundant renewable resources for various applications. This study explores the application of three distinct models, namely Convolutional Neural Network Long Short-Term Memory (CNN-LSTM), and Exponential Smoothing, for the prediction of solar wind patterns. The research aims to investigate the comparative performance of these forecasting techniques in capturing the dynamics of solar wind data. By leveraging the capabilities of deep learning through CNN-LSTM and the simplicity of Exponential Smoothing, we assess their effectiveness in providing accurate predictions for solar wind behavior. The results of this investigation have consequences for space weather forecasting and the understanding of solar-terrestrial interactions. Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and R-squared (R²) are utilized for evaluating the manner in which a regression model performs. Wind speed and solar irradiation are predicted using four models are Exponential Smoothing model, LSTM model, CNN-LSTM model, and Smooth CNN-LSTM Model. The Exponential Smoothing model performs less well compared to the others, especially in terms of accuracy (MSE, RMSE) and explanatory power (R²). “LSTM” and “CNN-LSTM” models have similar performance, with “CNN-LSTM” slightly outperforming “LSTM” with regard to RMSE and R². The “Smooth CNN-LSTM” model outperforms the other algorithms across all metrics, showcasing superior accuracy, precision, and explanatory power.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Influence of Aluminium Anode Nanostructure on Ionic Conductivity and Battery Capacity

firman ridwan — 03-30-2025

This research examines the influence of anode surface area on the efficacy of aluminium-air batteries. Three varieties of aluminium anodes were produced: non-mesh, one-step nanomesh, and two-step nanomesh. The nanomesh structures were fabricated via a multi-step anodization procedure employing phosphoric acid, leading to enhanced surface area and pore density. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the 2-step nanomesh anode possessed the highest average pore diameter of 180 nm, resulting in a substantial enhancement of active surface area. Electrochemical characterization methods, such as galvanostatic discharge testing, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry, were utilized to assess battery performance. The findings indicated that the 2-step nanomesh anode had superior electron discharge rate, ionic conductivity, and oxidation stability relative to the 1-step nanomesh and non-mesh anodes. The 2-step nanomesh anode attained a specific capacity of 1.92 mAh and a power output of 59.71 mW, exceeding the performance of alternative anode topologies. The improved battery performance is due to the enlarged active surface area of the anode, which promotes more efficient ion transport and electrochemical processes. The findings underscore the importance of anode surface modification in enhancing the performance of aluminium-air batteries and offer insights for the design of high-capacity, high-power energy storage systems for diverse applications.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Thermal and Electrical Performance of the PV Panels in the Presence of Soot Particles and Dust: An Experimental Study

ali a. ismaeel — 03-30-2025

Particulate matter, such as dust, soot, and dirt, are moved by wind and other air movements and accumulated on top of the PV panel surface, excluding solar penetration and hence affecting the extent of power produced. Six levels of dirt density were prepared for this experiment to evaluate the effects of dust and soot on PV efficiency in the Al-Doura district, Baghdad, where emissions from power plants and oil refineries are higher than a district located 10 km away in terms of University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq. The research showed that soot and dust accumulation on the panels reduced the flow of sunlight and intensified hot spots, thereby reducing the power generation efficiency. Dust alone reduces efficiency by up to 48%, while soot by 54%. The greater soot is ascribed to its deposit, which increases panel temperatures more than dust does. The effect of deposition density on temperature rise was proportional, to be exact, 0.54℃ to 2℃ increase per dirty deposit.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Enhanced Production Management in Energy Storage: Parameter Estimation and Modeling of Lithium-Ion Batteries under Dynamic Loads

haniza — 03-30-2025

Efficient production management in energy storage systems requires accurate performance modeling of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), especially under varying load conditions. This study presents a novel simplified lumped parameter approach that predicts battery performance with minimal reliance on internal design specifics. The approach uses a black-box modeling technique to estimate critical parameters—ohmic overpotential, diffusion time constant, and charge exchange current—via a Levenberg–Marquardt optimization algorithm, based on experimental voltage, current, and open circuit voltage data. Results demonstrate high accuracy in predicting cell voltage over dynamic load cycles, achieving standard deviations of 0.015 V and 0.014 V in parameter estimation and load prediction, respectively. These findings have significant implications for advancing energy storage systems by enabling more sustainable production management practices, reducing resource wastage, and improving operational efficiency. By enhancing the adaptability of production processes while maintaining high performance, this model contributes to achieving long-term goals of sustainability and scalability in energy storage applications.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Nano-Fluid Cooled Condenser in Air Conditioning for Energy Conservation

k. balashowry — 03-30-2025

The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry is always on the lookout for new and improved technology to help with their quest for environmentally friendly and economically viable cooling solutions. Investigating nanotechnology as a means to enhance HVAC system performance is an encouraging field of study. This research looks at the possibility of installing nano-fluid cooling jackets on the outside of condensers used in air conditioners. In particular, it examines how their distinct characteristics can improve the system's overall performance and speed up the transfer of heat. The primary area of study is the impact of copper and alumina nano-fluids on air cooling system efficiency. This investigation's primary objective is to determine the impact of these nano-fluids on heat transfer efficiency. The experimental strategy makes use of nano-fluids, which have unique features, to increase heat transfer rates by acting as an external medium around the condenser. By employing this methodology, the research aims to shed light on the potential uses of nano-fluids in HVAC systems. By conducting in-depth tests and analyses, this study aims to fill gaps in our knowledge about the pros and cons of using nano-fluids in HVAC systems. By taking a fresh tack, we can better understand the theoretical underpinnings of nano-fluid applications and highlight their real-world applications in enhancing air conditioning performance and efficiency. Aside from lowering the costs of pressure loss and pipe wall erosion, the results show that nano-fluids are more stable because they contain particles that are only micrometers or millimeters in size. They also conduct heat better than traditional models predict.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: An Assessment of the Dynamic Behaviors of a Counterflow Heat Exchanger Under Variable Thermophysical Properties of Thermal Fluids

erhan kayabasi — 03-30-2025

Counterflow heat exchangers have been extensively investigated and optimized. However, almost all the literature indicates that the investigations have been performed under the assumption of constant fluid properties. In this study, a dynamic simulation was performed for counterflow plate heat exchangers using MATLAB/SIMULINK modeling considering variable fluids properties. Temperature distribution of hot flow, cold flow, lower, inner, and top wall in counterflow was simulated under transient conditions in order to observe the effects of temperature difference and the errors due to the constant temperature assumption with disturbances in the inlet temperatures. A thermodynamic model of the counterflow plate heat exchanger divided into n cells imaginarily was developed. Then, equations defining heat and mass transfer were considered for two-dimensional heat transfer: between hot flow, cold flow, and heat exchangers' walls, regarding the variation of thermophysical properties of flows and heat exchanger materials by temperature. Hence, the differentiation of temperature distributions of cells in heat exchangers was instantly observed under transient operating conditions to discover the effects of input parameters such as wall material thermal properties, fluids thermal properties, and fluids flowrates in detail. According to the results obtained, 43% and 23% errors were observed in engine oil and ethylene glycol between fixed and variable thermophysical properties. In addition, heat exchanger wall temperatures with constant and variable thermophysical properties showed considerable differences in the first cells of approximately 20℃ for the upper wall, the hot side, and in the last cells of approximately 10℃ for the lower wall, the cold side.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Enhancing Solar PV System Performance in Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Sarishabari Solar Plant and Strategic Recommendations

riad mollik babu — 03-30-2025

2, underscoring its alignment with Bangladesh’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets. By uniquely combining performance, economic, and environmental assessments through an integrated simulation framework, this study provides actionable insights for renewable energy stakeholders in Bangladesh. ]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: A Metaheuristic Optimization Technique for Maximum Power Extraction in Solar Photovoltaic Systems under Partial Shading

chandrakant bhos — 12-30-2024

One of the main problems with a solar photovoltaic (PV) system is the partial shading condition (PSC). This results in a significant reduction of the output power of a solar PV system. This paper mainly aims at proposing and validating a novel optimization technique namely the Genetic Algorithm (GA) for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) in case of PSC. In this study, an experimental examination utilizing a PV emulator highlights the effect of PSC on PV system performance. PSC was found to result in a 37% decrease in maximum power, a 38% decrease in fill factor, and a 60% decrease in efficiency. Meta-heuristic techniques for P-V curves with several peaks can be used to track the maximum power point (MPP). GA is based on a metaheuristic methodology that has been applied to solve optimization problems in a variety of systems, such as PV systems with MPPT. With a convergence time of less than 2 ms, the suggested system can track the global MPP with 99% tracking efficiency. This demonstrates the improvement in tracking time and accuracy over traditional MPPT techniques. Additionally, the suggested system can also accomplish steady operation in dynamically changing environmental conditions and reduce the oscillations around MPP.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Biomedical Simulation of Non-Newtonian Fluid Dynamics in Cardiovascular Systems: A Finite Volume Method Approach to Pulsatile Flow and Atherosclerosis Analysis

tulus — 12-30-2024

The study of non-Newtonian fluid dynamics within cardiovascular systems is critical for understanding the complex interactions between blood flow and arterial health. This research focuses on the application of the Finite Volume Method (FVM) to simulate non-Newtonian fluid behavior under pulsatile flow conditions, mimicking the heartbeat. The objective is to analyze the effects of varying viscosity properties and flow patterns on the development and progression of atherosclerosis. By employing computational simulations, we investigate the rheological properties of blood, characterized as a non-Newtonian fluid, and its impact on shear stress distribution and arterial wall interaction. The simulation framework incorporates advanced non-Newtonian models, including Power-law and Carreau-Yasuda models, to accurately represent blood viscosity variations. Pulsatile flow dynamics are modeled to replicate physiological conditions, providing insights into the mechanical forces exerted on arterial walls and their role in atherosclerotic plaque formation. The results highlight critical areas of high shear stress and low shear rate, which correlate with regions prone to atherosclerosis. This study's findings contribute to a deeper understanding of cardiovascular fluid mechanics and offer potential implications for medical diagnostics and treatment strategies for atherosclerosis. The application of the FVM in this context demonstrates its robustness in handling complex fluid behaviors and geometries, paving the way for more sophisticated simulations in biomedical engineering.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Numerical Analysis of Horizontal Geothermal Heat Exchanger at Various Burial Depths for Solar PV/T Cooling in South Iraq Weather

hasanain a. abdul wahhab — 12-30-2024

It can be described that high solar radiation intensity is the basis for the performance of solar photovoltaic modules. Therefore, it causes a decrease in the efficiency of the panel due to the increase in its surface temperature and thus affects its lifespan due to periodic thermal effects. This paper presents an analysis of the PV panel performance and thermal problems and attempts to solve them by cooling it during the day using water circulation in a heat exchanger embedded in the ground. The present work aims to analyze the thermal exchange process of geothermal heat exchangers by computational simulation approach. The research parameters included changing the depth of the copper pipe loop in the soil at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m, and water flow rate of 0.0278 kg/s, copper pipe length, and thermal conductivity of soil in steady conditions employing the yearly weather data of southern desert in Iraq. The computational simulation results manifested that during the solar day, the fluctuations of outlet water temperature are diminished when the burial depth of the heat exchanger is around 2.0 m due to the soil's elevated thermal inertia. In addition, the temperature of the ground is comparatively stable and these values are higher than the inlet water temperature in winter with low values in summer.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Optimizing Electrical Energy Management in Apartment Buildings Through Ensemble Neural Network Prediction Model

ahmad rofii — 12-30-2024

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Techno-Economic Evaluation of Hybrid Solar-Wind Power Plant for Generating Electricity at Toll Merak Rest Area Electric Vehicle Charging Station

zainal arifin — 12-30-2024

The research proposes a Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) that integrates wind and solar energy to address the high initial investment challenges associated with renewable energy systems. The primary objective is to develop a cost-effective energy solution for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) located at rest areas along the Trans Java toll road, supporting Indonesia's transition to environmentally friendly land transportation. Utilizing HOMER-Grid software, the study analyzes the potential of wind and solar energy and associated investment costs. Key outcomes include energy production, consumption, surplus energy, energy cost ratios, Net Present Cost (NPC), and Cost of Energy (COE). The findings indicate that the hybrid system can achieve a 17.66% contribution of renewable energy when connected to the primary grid, highlighting its potential to enhance efficiency and sustainability in Indonesia’s transportation sector.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Opportunities for the Development and Management of Low-Carbon Energy Production in Russian District Heating Facilities Using Hydro-Steam Turbine Installations

oleg milman — 12-30-2024

2 emissions as a result of the application of the installations in Russia. Proceeding from the performed calculations, the paper offers an estimate of the decrease in CO₂ emissions due to the implementation of this innovation in Russia. The use of hydro-steam turbine installations in cogeneration schemes at heating plants will increase the reliability of power supply to district heating sources and reduce specific fuel consumption in the production of electricity. The total theoretical potential of greenhouse gas emission reduction due to the implementation of hydro-steam turbines in Russian boiler houses exceeds 500,000 tons CO₂ annually. ]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Navigating Complexity of Risk Management Disclosure in the Energy Insurance Industry Using ISO 31000 Framework Analysis

farida titik kristanti — 12-30-2024

Globalization has made the business environment more complex, with many corporations facing increasingly difficult challenges. Furthermore, some corporations place a higher focus on risk management than profit. However, risk management has continued to evolve over the years. Therefore, this study delves into the determinants influencing risk management disclosure (RMD) in energy insurance companies, addressing the complex requirements of risk and transparency. The research presents a new model and examines parameters such as profitability, leverage, liquidity, company size, and ownership structure—including public, institutional, and managerial ownership—within the framework of ISO 31000, moderated by the risk management committee. This study used a quantitative research approach to gather data from 2014 to 2023 for 133 observations through purposive sampling. The findings indicate that company profitability, leverage, liquidity, company size, and ownership structure—including public ownership and managerial ownership—have no positive effect on risk management disclosure (RMD), whereas institutional ownership has a positive impact on RMD. On the other hand, the risk management committee moderates the significant impact of public ownership, institutional ownership, and managerial ownership on RMD. This study underscores the importance of shaping risk management disclosures in the Indonesian insurance sector. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the factors driving RMD, offering valuable insights for stakeholders in the energy insurance industry.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Modeling of Energy-Autonomous and Sustainable Solar DTN Nodes and Their Impacts on the Performances of DTN Networks in the Context of Different Mobility Models and DTN Routing Protocols

sammou el mastapha — 12-30-2024

Delay-Tolerant Networks (DTN) are intermittent wireless mobile networks designed to handle communications in environments where network connectivity is often disrupted due to node mobility or the absence of fixed infrastructures. These frequent disconnections lead to repeated communication attempts between nodes, thereby increasing energy consumption. DTN is often deployed in isolated and hard-to-reach environments with limited energy sources, imposing significant constraints on the performance and operational lifetime of individual DTN nodes, as well as the DTN network as a whole. Despite the significant efforts invested by researchers to develop energy-efficient algorithms and models, the problem of energy consumption persists, especially with non-renewable sources. The motivation for this research is based on the major challenges related to powering mobile nodes in DTN networks, notably due to the absence of reliable and constant energy sources. The energy constraints of the nodes, combined with their mobility, raise problems of energy consumption and durability, leading to communication interruptions, delays, data losses, and a decrease in the overall efficiency of the network. To overcome these challenges, the article proposes a long-term energy management strategy by integrating renewable energy sources, notably solar energy, into the architecture of DTN nodes. The contributions include the modeling of an energy-autonomous and sustainable solar-powered DTN node, the evaluation of the energy generated and stored by these nodes, and the validation of the effectiveness of this approach through simulations in the ONE simulator, considering realistic mobility scenarios and communication conditions. The results show that solar DTN nodes have significantly higher residual energy than those with limited power sources. Additionally, social mobility models (MBM, SPMBM) consume more energy than individual models (RW, RWP, RD), while the Spray-and-Wait and PROPHET protocols are more energy-efficient compared to Epidemic and MaxProp. These analyses reveal optimal combinations of DTN protocols and mobility models to reduce energy consumption: the Spray-and-Wait protocol aligns well with social mobility models, while PROPHET is more suited to individual mobility models.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Development of a Renewable Energy Forecasting Strategy Based on Numerical Weather Prediction for the Cold Ironing System at the Port of Ancona, Italy

daniele colarossi — 12-30-2024

Since renewable energy sources have an intermittent nature, forecasting strategies are increasingly important. In parallel, ports are characterized by large energy demands, especially from berthed ships. Cold ironing systems have already been proven to reduce their environmental impact by connecting ships to the electricity grid and allowing them to switch off their auxiliary engines in port. In this work, a local energy production, consisting of photovoltaic, wind turbines, and an energy storage system, is proposed to cover the energy demand of ships. In addition, an energy forecasting strategy is presented, where the solar and wind energy potential is provided by the Weather and Research Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale model. By forecasting the energy production for the following day, the storage system can be charged from the grid at night, namely in off-peak periods, reducing the pressure on the grid in on-peak periods. The methodology is tested on the port of Ancona (Italy). Results show that energy production can directly cover 54% of energy demand, and up to 70% by adding the storage system. The forecasting strategy reduces the energy withdrawn during the daytime by 24.9% and increases that during the nighttime by 18.9%, proving the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Operating Limits and Control Variables in Photovoltaic Solar Plants with a Net Effective Capacity of 5 MW Connected to the SIN in Colombia

cristian rosas — 09-25-2024

This document delineates the central supervision and control variables for photovoltaic parks that possess a net adequate capacity or power exceeding 5 MW, which are interconnected to the National Interconnected System (SIN) serving as a backup to Colombia's Regional Transmission System (STR). To establish a comprehensive understanding of the operating limits and control variables for photovoltaic solar plants with a net adequate capacity or maximum power of at least 5 MW, a research and analysis methodology was developed in accordance with the regulatory framework in Colombia. This methodology aims to underpin the regulatory parameters and operational guidelines for enhancing the efficiency and compliance of these energy systems.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Investigating the Effect of Natural Gas Composition on Centrifugal Gas Compressors Used in Gas Turbine Power Plants

daido fujita — 09-25-2024

The investigation of the substantial impact of natural gas composition on the parameters for operation as well as the performance of centrifugal gas compressors in gas turbine power plants is presented in this paper. The efficiency and dependability of these compressors are greatly impacted by the composition of natural gas, which is defined by the different proportions of methane, ethane, propane, butane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and other trace elements. This paper attempts to outline the complex effects of different gas compositions on compressor efficiency, maintenance needs, and overall plant operations through a thorough examination. Important factors to consider include how compressor longevity and performance are affected by gas density, energy content, corrosive components, moisture content, inert gases, and combustion characteristics. In addition, the study examines mitigating tactics to deal with issues brought on by variations in gas composition, including material compatibility, adaptive technologies, monitoring systems, and maintenance plans. This study offers insightful information that is crucial for maximizing the dependability and efficiency of centrifugal gas compressors in gas turbine power plants under various natural gas compositions.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 3, Pages undefined: CFD Analysis of Solar Air Heater Using V-Shaped Artificial Roughness to Attain Heat Transfer Enhancement

abhishek agarwal — 09-25-2024

The solar air heaters are generally used in food drying applications or air heating applications. The solar air heater encompasses the collector body, duct, absorber glass surface, air inlet, and air outlet tube. In the present research, the solar collector model is designed in Creo parametric design software and imported into ANSYS design modeler. The thermal analysis of the solar air dryer is conducted in the ANSYS CFX simulation package at different Reynolds numbers. To attain heat transfer enhancement, V-shaped artificial roughness is incorporated on the upper absorber plate. The V-shaped artificial roughness considered for the analysis are 60°, 90°, and 120° angles. From the thermal analysis, heat transfer coefficient (HTC) value, pressure drop, and thermos hydraulic performance parameter are determined for different V-shaped artificial roughness profiles. The CFD simulation results have shown that including ribs in the design of the solar collector enhances its heat transfer rate and THPF (thermos-hydraulic performance factor). The V-shaped ribs with a rib angle of 60° have shown superior thermal-hydraulic performance in comparison to rib angles of 90° and 120°, across all Reynolds numbers.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Impacts of PT Pertamina Geothermal Sibayak's Exploration on Economic, Social, and Environmental Aspects: A Case Study in Semangat Gunung Village, Karo District

amlys syahputra silalahi — 09-25-2024

This research explores the direct and indirect impacts of PT Pertamina Geothermal (Tbk) Sibayak's geothermal exploration on the economic, social, and environmental aspects of Semangat Gunung Village in Merdeka District, Karo Regency. The study surveyed 120 residents, achieving a 100% response rate. Using the Lilliefors test, the data were found to be normally distributed. The socioeconomic and environmental impacts were assessed by comparing pre- and post-exploration conditions. Findings indicate significant effects on various aspects: employment opportunities increased, though business opportunities remained unaffected by the geothermal activities. Community income saw a decline, primarily due to environmental disruptions such as floods impacting agriculture. Despite these economic shifts, the majority of the population continued working in agriculture, with a significant minority engaged in informal businesses. The exploration activities also affected community comfort and cultural heritage, with a substantial number of residents expressing discomfort and concerns over environmental degradation. The study underscores the need for a strategic environmental management approach, identifying key internal and external factors influencing the community. Recommendations include leveraging strengths and opportunities while mitigating weaknesses and threats, using a Livelihood Approach matrix for strategic planning. These findings provide crucial insights for policymakers and stakeholders in managing the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of geothermal exploration.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Blade Pitch Angle Regulation for H-Type Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine: A Review

mahmood abduljabbar hammad — 09-25-2024

Wind energy is one of the most widely used renewable energy sources around the world. A considerable research amount was accomplished in the area of performance enhancement for H-type Darrieus VAWT using blade pitch angle regulation. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive information for future research related to performance enhancement of H-type Darrius VAWT using blade pitch angle regulation. By pointing out the current technological development, the main advantages and disadvantages of the blade pitch angle techniques used. This review discusses the main effect of fixed and variable blade pitch angle regulation, blade pitch control techniques, and mathematical modelling. The state-of-the-art on how to improve the H-type Darrieus VAWT performance by using variable pitch angle adjustment was addressed. The active variable blade pitching technique was suggested to enhance the performance of H-type Darrius VAWT as it can increase the lift force and reduce the drag force on the blade during the wind turbine operation. Additionally, DMST model was suggested to be utilized to calculate the power output as it provides relatively accurate results especially at low TSRs.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Performance Assessment of Multiple Optimizing Algorithms for Hybrid PV and Diesel Energy System Sizing

mohammed qasim taha — 09-25-2024

This article assesses various optimization algorithms used to find the sizing of standalone hybrid energy system (HES) providing energy to isolated residential area load. The HES comprises three elements: photovoltaic panels (PV), diesel generators (DG). Many optimization algorithms have been assessed in this research to determine the most effective sizing of the HES in order to reduce the PV arrays, DGs number and the overall system cost hence minimizing the cost of energy (COE). The algorithms convergence time and the resulting loss of power supply probability (LPSP) are examined in this comparison. In this article, MATLAB/Simulink is used for its robust capabilities in modeling, simulating, and analyzing dynamic systems. The optimization's constraint is maintaining a reliability of 100%, ensuring uninterrupted energy supply to meet the energy demand. The results of the optimizations demonstrate that some algorithms gave different results of sizing.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 3, Pages undefined: AI Adoption for Steam Boiler Trip Prevention in Thermal Power Plants

firas basim ismail — 09-25-2024

This study introduces two advanced artificial intelligence systems designed to model and predict various boiler trips, playing a pivotal role in maintaining boilers' normal and safe functioning. These AI systems have been meticulously developed using MATLAB, thus offering sophisticated tools for diagnosing boiler trip occurrences. Real-world operational data from a coal-fired power plant, encompassing a comprehensive range of thirty-two operational variables tied to seven distinct boiler trips, was harnessed for these innovative systems' training, validation, and analysis. The first intelligent system capitalizes on a pure Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach, leveraging the insights drawn from plant operators' decision-making processes concerning the key variables influencing each specific boiler trip. On the other hand, the second system takes a hybrid approach, incorporating Genetic Algorithms (GAs) to emulate the decision-making role of plant operators in identifying the most influential variables for each trip. Moreover, different topology combinations were explored to pinpoint the optimal diagnostic structure. The outcomes of our investigation underline the impressive capabilities of the ANN system, successfully detecting all six considered boiler trips either before or concurrently with the detection by the plant's control system. Furthermore, the hybrid system exhibited a marginal improvement of 0.1% in Root Mean Square error compared to the pure ANN system. These findings collectively emphasize the potential of AI-driven methods in enhancing early detection and prevention of boiler trips, thereby contributing to improved operational safety and efficiency.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Performance Analysis of One Stage Anaerobic Digester Before and After Restating to Production Biogas/Biomethane

atheer s. hassoon — 09-25-2024

In this work, biogas and biomethane production in a one-stage anaerobic digester (AD) are investigated. Four batch digesters were rotated at different speeds: 180 rpm for the first anaerobic digester (d1), 120 rpm for the second (d2), 60 rpm for the third (d3), and no speed at fourth digester (d4). Anaerobic digestion (AD) process of these digesters was thermophilic at 55℃ and 1 bar. The substrates were three liters of water, 1.5 kg of potatoes (PT), and 1.5 kg of moist cow dung (CD). Rotating speed, pressure, temperature, residence time (RT), and restarting time were investigated in theoretical and experimental energies of an anaerobic digester (AD). The simulation of one-stage anaerobic digestion (AD) is studied using Aspen Plus software. The simulations showed that increasing AD pressure by one to three bars in one stage increased biomethane production by 32%. Increasing the temperature from 35 to 70 degrees increased biomethane output by 38%. Increasing AD residence duration to 384 days increased biomethane concentration by 52.23%. The move increased AD's gross heating value by 1.73%. The experiment's findings were obtained by holding the system at 1 bar, 55℃, and varying the restarting time between 6 and 24 hours. The average biogas volume increase between the 1st-AD and the 4th-AD before rest, after restarting, and after/before restating AD operations is 118%, 124.5%, and 10.96%, respectively. The average biogas concentration increases between the 1st-AD and the 4th-AD before restating, after beginning, and after/before restating AD processes is 17.31%, 20.65%, and 6.4%, respectively. For the first and fourth digestors, the absolute average deviation (AAD) of biomethane content was 3.78% and 3.21%, respectively. Experimental and simulation data agreed. Finally, digestor performance was directly proportional to AD restarting time for one stage, with the optimal interval after 6 hours.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages undefined: WITHDRAWN: Evaluation of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System in Harsh Weathers

hussein a. kazem — 06-29-2024

This article has been withdrawn.

As a responsible publisher, we prioritize adherence to scholarly ethics and the rights of all authors involved. During our review, it has come to light that the corresponding author submitted and altered the content of the manuscript without obtaining consent from all co-authors. This act breaches our publication principles and the fundamental norms of author collaboration.

In light of this, we have made the decision to retract the article. Our retraction is guided by international publication ethics standards and our commitment to maintaining academic integrity.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause to our readers and authors and are committed to enhancing our editorial processes to prevent such instances in the future.

For further information, please contact our editorial office.

Contact Information: editor.ijepm@iieta.org

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages undefined: A Study on the Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystalline Paper on PVA-KOH Electrolyte Membranes for Increasing Ionic Conductivity

firman ridwan — 06-29-2024

The enhancement of ionic conductivity and tensile strength in electrolyte membranes by nanoparticles is a key factor driving increased interest in their use. Increasing conductive and strong membranes has the same meaning for energy storage. Conductive solid electrolyte membranes are made by mixing Potassium Hydroxide (KOH), Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), and Glycerol with the addition of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) paper. Paper NCC is made using the hydrolysis method. In this study, an increase in conductivity and tensile strength due to differences in NCC composition with variations of 0 g, 1 g, 3 g, and 5 g in the electrolyte membrane was observed. The test results show that the highest conductivity of 0.0512 S.cm^-1 was obtained from 3 g NCC according to the membrane test results. The addition of NCC weighing 5 g resulted in the highest tensile strength, namely 6.91 MPa. Furthermore, the addition of 5 g of NCC resulted in the largest energy production of 0.000188 W/cm². The inclusion of NCC in the PVA-KOH membrane was found to increase the tensile strength and ionic conductivity of the electrolyte membrane. The results show that the incorporation of NCC increases the conductivity and strength of the membrane, thereby showing its potential for use in the future development of aluminum air batteries.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Constraint-based Model for Energy Optimization Management of Parallel Pumping Systems with Demand Variability

manuel vicente valencia diaz — 06-29-2024

The research and development of energy optimization methodologies in parallel pumping systems in recent years have aimed to impact operational costs, energy savings, and system reliability. Operational costs are correlated with the number of units operating simultaneously, considering power demand, operating point, and system reliability. Additionally, the optimization strategy must manage the operation of pumping units by regulating the output flow according to process dynamics and the energy tariff structure. In this document, an energy optimization model is presented for parallel pumping systems operating under variable demand conditions. The optimization problem is addressed through an iterative constraint-based analysis model, capable of predicting the number of units that should operate simultaneously and their corresponding speeds during future time intervals. The methodology suggests analyzing system operation indicators as inputs for the prediction model. The effectiveness of the methodological strategy for optimal dispatching of parallel pumping units is verified in a utility sector pumping system. The results obtained demonstrate savings between 20% and 25% in energy costs for system operation, which represents a contribution in the search for a significant use of energy and energy sustainability.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages undefined: WITHDRAWN: Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization and Feedforward Neural Network Model for Enhanced Prediction of Gas Turbine Emissions

ahmed n. awad — 06-29-2024

This article has been withdrawn.

As a responsible publisher, we are committed to maintaining academic integrity and the quality of our publications. After careful review, we have made the decision to retract the aforementioned article. This decision is based on the discovery of significant similarities to previously published works that were not properly cited.

Our decision to retract is in line with international standards of publication ethics, including our commitment to academic integrity. We adhere to widely recognized best practices and ethical standards in the industry to ensure the accuracy and reliability of our publications.

For further information, please contact our editorial office.

Contact Information: editor.ijepm@iieta.org

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach to the Intelligent Selection of PV-BESS Based on Cost and Reliability

atiyah altayf — 06-29-2024

Addressing the challenge of meeting power demand with high reliability at low cost in Renewable energy (RE) generation is vital issue. The Autonomous Hybrid Energy Storage System (AHESS) to cover electrical deficit in Zigen clinic in southern Libya is introduced. It designed to produce 4 kW. The system comprises of photovoltaic (PV), Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Flywheel Storage System (FESS) and Supercapacitance Storage System (SCSS). Six PV-BESS combinations, six criteria and three scenarios are studied. The research aim is to find the optimal PV-BESS combination based on low cost and high reliability. Multi-Criteria Decision Methods (MCDM) is implemented to select the optimal combination. The study utilizes Net Present Costs (NPC), Loss Power Supply Probability (LPSP), and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) to assess each criterion. Six combinations of AHESS are implemented in MATLAB. Three MCDM methods are used to determine the optimal sizing of PV-BESS. Simulation results show that 30 PV panels and BESS 60 Ah are the optimal choices based on these results NPC = 19801 \$/kWh, LPSP = 0.104 \$/kWh, and LCOE = 0.032 \$/kWh.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Performance Enhancement by Cooling the PV Panels Using Phase Change Material (RT35): ANSYS Simulation and Experimental Investigation

mais alzgool — 06-29-2024

The efficiency of solar panels is highly affected by the ambient temperature, which limits electrical energy production. There are several cooling techniques to minimize the PV panels’ temperature. Using a Phase Change Material (PCM) is one of the critical techniques to choose. The desirable thermal, kinetic, and chemical properties of PCM are critical conditions for the steady-state thermal Latent Heat Storage Unit efficiency (LHSU). The Phase change material must be thermally stable and dependable. Due to the hot season temperatures in Jordan; RT35 has been chosen as a PCM. The poor thermal conductivity of this material is one of its drawbacks, thus, aluminum fins as a high conductivity material have been added to the proposed design in order to manage the temperature of the phase change material as a Thermal Conductivity Enhancer (TCE). This study intends to enhance the PV cells’ performance by proposing a new design of PV panels with RT35 and fins as a cooling technique. As a result, adding RT35 has a significant impact on reducing the PV panel’s temperature by 16℃, while adding the rectangular fins contributes to decreasing the temperature by another 2℃. Thus, adding RT35 in conjunction with fins will enhance the efficiency and the output power of the PV panel resulting in an 11% increase in electrical production. The results have been validated through ANSYS simulation as well as experimental work which shows a good correlation with the theoretical analysis.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Performance Assessment of Petrol Engines with Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel

konkala balashowry — 06-29-2024

This research focused on reducing emissions from petrol engines to mitigate greenhouse gases. Experiments aimed to decrease pollutants from petrol engines and enhance efficiency at full load using hydrogen as a secondary fuel, injecting it for 2 milliseconds and 2.5 milliseconds. The study comprised two phases: one using petrol alone at all loads, and the other combining petrol with hydrogen injections at 216 gm/hour and 270 gm/hour. Performance, pollutants, brake, and mechanical efficiencies were compared between phases. Efficiency gradually improved with load for the 2ms injection. Efficiency improved in all timing cases with hydrogen compared to running on petrol alone. The highest efficiencies occurred with 2.5ms hydrogen injection, reducing pollutants at full load, making it the optimal interval. Injecting hydrogen in petrol engines improves efficiency by reducing emissions. Injecting hydrogen at 270 gm/hour at full load increased brake and indicated thermal efficiency by 9%, with no change in mechanical efficiency compared to pure petrol, which was slightly higher. Emissions of NO, CO₂, and HC were reduced by 16.5%, 15%, and 17.2% respectively. Oxygen percentage by volume increased by 10.43%, supporting complete combustion.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Optimizing Tilt Angle for Thermal Efficiency of Vacuum Tube Solar Collectors

safaa mohemmed ali mohemmed reda — 03-30-2024

The ideal altitude angle for evacuated tube solar collectors, taking into account factors such as solar radiation availability, geographical location, seasonal variations, and collector tilt, is taken into account in this comparative analysis. This study focuses on obtaining the best thermal energy that can be obtained from the falling sunlight to increase the thermal efficiency of the solar collector. This model uses a Cartesian direction model (x, y, and z) and mathematical ordering methods to generate a 3D model. COMSOL 5.6 is then utilized to link the framework with mathematics and simulate the case. Solar radiation increases from March to June, peaking from 5–6 a.m. to 18–19 p.m. during the summer. The highest solar evaluation and azimuth occurred at 12 hV in the south direction. Temperature has a major impact on the performance of water heaters and vacuum tube solar collectors. The specific tilt angle analyzed is 40 degrees. The location where the analysis was done is Baghdad. The optimal tilt angle was found at 25° at the start of the day and reached 40° at 12 p.m. The best case was reached when the angle was 40 degrees. The magnitude of efficiency improvements was seen; the value of efficiency reached 78% compared to other cases. Where the difference is between it and the angle of 0 degrees altitude, at which the efficiency rate reached 64%, the amount of improvement is 14%.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Improving the Performance of Photovoltaic Solar Panels Using Argon-Filled Double-Glazing Cover as a Radiative Cooling

saddam k. shabeeb — 03-30-2024

This study presents a new radiative cooling method to mitigate the radiation effect on a photovoltaic panel using a glass cover consisting of two glass panels. The gap between the perfectly sealed glass layers is filled with Argon gas as a heat suppressant. The assessment of the new proposed idea is performed experimentally and numerically. An experimental setup has been designed and fabricated to measure the required parameters for the system performance evaluation. The research parameters included design parameters such as the gap height between the glass layers at 10, 15, 20 and 25 mm. The tests were performed on various solar irradiances over the day. The output voltage, current, and temperatures at various locations were also recorded to permit performance evaluation. The investigations were extended by computational simulation to visualize the thermal situation at various design parameters. The results showed that there was a decrease in the panel surface temperature of the photovoltaic panels after adding the glass cover. By installation of the double glassing cover with a 20 mm gap, the surface temperature was reduced by between 5℃–9℃. Such temperature reduction demonstrates the success of the novel idea of an Argon-filled double-glassing cover. The maximum efficiency was increased to 14.2% for a panel with the added radiative cooler compared to 12.1% for a regular panel without cover under the same operating conditions.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages undefined: A Study of Japan’s Energy Landscape in the Transition to Renewable Electricity

daido fujita — 03-30-2024

The global shift towards renewable energy sources is driven by the desire for a sustainable energy future. Integrating intermittent renewable sources and maintaining grid stability are obstacles that must be overcome to achieve this goal, which is why grid stability and energy storage systems are being investigated in this study using Energy PLAN simulation. This study conducts a thorough analysis of energy storage solutions necessary to support Japan’s energy landscape shift to renewable electricity. It offers a comprehensive analysis considering technological, environmental, and policy aspects to evaluate the applicability, difficulties, and potential of renewable electricity. Technical factors emphasize how critical it is to maintain grid balance and consider scalability and technology compatibility with Japan’s distinct energy infrastructure. Economic analyses examine revenue streams, levelized storage prices, investment needs, and cost-benefit evaluations to shed light on the viability and appeal of technologies for storing energy from an economic standpoint. The goal of synthesizing these several characteristics is to provide policymakers, and energy stakeholders participating in Japan’s ambitious journey towards renewable electricity with strategic insights, practical recommendations, and a roadmap. This study aims to steer Japan’s energy landscape towards resilience, sustainability, and diversification by establishing links between imperatives, economic feasibility, and technical breakthroughs.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Feasibility of FSPV-Grid Tied System in Urban Regions of Chhattisgarh State in India

tanu rizvi — 03-30-2024

This study presents a novel generation theory based on FSPV system together with grid integration in Chhattisgarh state. In this study four regions mainly two industries and two local loads have been chosen to evaluate the results. There is availability of nearby water sources at the selected sites. The technical, economical and environmental aspects of a proposed FSPV-grid tied system is analyzed in the same selected regions of Chhattisgarh and the results are compared with an existing grid-only system. The entire system of four major sites in the state are simulated using HOMER energy, powered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), United States. At the moment, all of the selected systems are powered by the grid-only system, and data has been collected for the same. The results of HOMER energy are further classified based on economic parameters such as NPC, LCOE, operating cost, system cost and paybacks. The second category includes technical parameters such as production proportion whereas, the third category includes environmental parameters of pollutants and water saving. The obtained results show that the FSPV-grid system as compared to grid-only system’s NPC is reduced to 27%, 7.03%, 10.76%, 12.13%, LCOE is reduced to 69%, 27.8%, 44%, 44.6%, with paybacks of 10.11 years, 12.28 years, 11.99 years, and 12.21 years and IRRs of 8.8%, 7.7%, 8%, 7.7% respectively by following the production proportions of 77.7% and 22.3%, 54.2% and 45.8%, 65.2% and 34.8%, and 65% and 35% from FSPV and grid system, Also, CO₂emissions were reduced by 44.6%, 38.06%, 40.62%, and 41.23% compared to the grid-only system for all four selected sites in this study, which can help the attached industries and local loads gain carbon credit points.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Enhancing the Efficacy of Adsorption-Based Carbon Storage Systems: A Finite Element Analysis Approach

mustafa m. mansour — 03-30-2024

In light of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 2020 special report, which estimates the global capacity for carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage to range between 8,000 and 55,000 gigatons, the imperative to enhance carbon storage efficiency and develop superior distribution systems has never been more critical. This investigation focuses on the optimization of adsorption-based carbon storage units through a comprehensive systems analysis, employing the finite element method within the COMSOL Multi-physics™ framework to devise a two-dimensional axisymmetric model that integrates energy, mass, and momentum conservation principles in accordance with thermodynamic constraints. The analysis entails examining the charging and discharging processes of the storage unit under a designated pressure of 9 MPa and an initial temperature of 302 K, with refrigeration provided by ice water. Findings from the simulation underscore the significance of observing pressure and temperature fluctuations during operational phases, revealing higher temperatures in the central region of the tank at the end of the charging cycle, contrasted with lower temperatures upon discharge completion. Moreover, a gradient in velocity is observed, diminishing from the entry point along the tank’s axis. The study underscores the feasibility of storing significantly more CO₂ than the 100 Gt projected by the IEA’s “sustainable development” scenario by 2055, with land-based storage potential notably surpassing offshore capacities. The research advances by developing a predictive model for a novel CO₂ adsorbent throughout the adsorption-desorption cycle, encompassing all relevant transport phenomena. This model is validated against extant data for H₂ storage, facilitating predictions of pressure and temperature variations across different tank locations. This work not only contributes to the field by enhancing the understanding of thermal effects within carbon storage units but also emphasizes the role of advanced modeling techniques in bolstering environmental protection efforts through improved liquid carbon storage solutions.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Increasing the Effectiveness of State Policy in Ensuring Energy Security and Environmental Protection

myroslav kryshtanovych — 03-30-2024

The significance of modeling the process of implementing state policy for energy security and environmental protection lies in its potential to guide effective decision-making. The purpose of the article is to determine the main objectives of the state policy to ensure the energy security and environmental protection. The object of the study is the system for ensuring the energy supply and energy security. The scientific task is to model the process of implementing an effective state policy to ensure the energy security and environmental protection and calculate the most optimal way to supply energy to cities in the EU. The research methodology involves the use of ERD (Entity Relationship Diagram) and Linear Programming methods. ERD is used to visually organize and structure the complex data associated with energy supply systems and environmental policies, highlighting the interrelationships and dependencies between various elements. As a result of using the above methodology, a scheme for implementing state policy in the field of energy security and environmental protection was formed, the most optimal method of energy use was calculated, and also, based on the generated calculation models, a recommendation list was proposed for optimizing modern state policy in the field of energy security and environmental protection. The results of the study fully fulfill the tasks and goals. The novelty of the article is revealed in the proposed methodological approach to the presentation of the system for optimizing modern state policy in the field of energy security and environmental protection. In the future, it is planned to expand the list of elements of the scheme for state policy in the field of energy security and environmental protection and unify existing mathematical calculations for other countries. The methodological approach’s novelty lies in its unique integration of ERD and Linear Programming to address a highly relevant and complex issue-balancing energy security with environmental protection. This approach differs from existing literature.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Performance Comparison of Si and GaAs Solar Cell due to Deposition of ZnO and SiO2 Antireflection Coating Layer

jhilirani nayak — 03-30-2024

This article provides a new approach to the comparison of the performance of low-cost, efficient, and stable silicon and gallium arsenide solar cells. The design convention becomes challenging due to the absorption and current mismatching of the used antireflection coating layer with device sub-layers. The electrical properties of the proposed devices were analyzed in the presence of zinc oxide and silicon dioxide anti-reflection coating (ARC) layer, by adopting COMSOL 5.6 simulation software. These monolithically designed single junction solar cells of distinct materials with various band gaps and diverse spectral characteristics furnish the best efficiency with impressive degradation in reflection losses. The wideband antireflection layers are used to reduce reflection losses by reducing the refractive index towards the top surface of the photovoltaic cells. Simulation results provide the optimized values of the parameters of the devices within the range of 200-1200nm wavelength. At a thickness of 0.5µm zinc oxide, silicon solar cell and gallium arsenide solar cell provides efficiency of 16.85% and 10.69% respectively. Deposition of silicon dioxide on zinc oxide enhances the power efficiency to 16.89% and 10.7% respectively. A set of figures including maximum voltage, maximum current, conversion efficiency, short circuit current, and fill factor are presented. This article represents the use of zinc oxide and silicon dioxide antireflection layers with their optimum thickness can provide a better improvement in the device's performance.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Performance Evaluation of Wood Pellets Derived from Biomass Waste as a Sustainable Energy Source

dino rimantho — 12-28-2023

Addressing pressing global challenges—such as energy crises, population growth, food scarcity, resource depletion, and global warming—requires innovative and sustainable solutions. Biomass-derived wood pellets present a promising eco-friendly energy alternative. This study investigates the conversion of agricultural residues into wood pellets, utilizing two distinct biomass compositions. Composition A comprises equal parts young coconut fiber, empty palm fruit bunches, and sawdust (1:1:1 ratio), while Composition B uses a 1:1:0.5 ratio of the same materials. Laboratory analyses were conducted in accordance with Indonesian National Standard (SNI) SNI 8021:2014 to determine the physical and chemical properties of the resulting wood pellets. It was found that the moisture content of Composition A ranged from 3.52% to 4.59% in Composition B, while ash content was significantly higher in Composition A at 10.09%, compared to 4.25% for Composition B. The energy content was measured to be approximately 4102 Kcal/Kg (17,173 MJ/Kg) for Composition A and 4613 Kcal/Kg (19,313 MJ/Kg) for Composition B. The results indicate that the moisture content and calorific value of the wood pellets are in compliance with several international standards, including SNI 8021:2014 (Indonesia), ONORM M7135 (Austria), and DIN 51731 (Germany). However, the ash content of Composition A exceeds these standards. The findings suggest that optimal composition ratios can yield biomass pellets that contribute to sustainable energy solutions in line with Indonesia's renewable energy goals and the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Emission and Performance in a Diesel Engine Operating on Diesel-Biodiesel-Butanol Blends Derived from Waste Cooking Oil

ali s. mohammad — 12-28-2023

In this investigation, the performance and emission profiles of a diesel engine, fueled by biodiesel derived from waste cooking oil (WCO), were evaluated. The biodiesel was incorporated into diesel fuel in various concentrations, and the potential enhancement of these mixtures with butanol was also explored. Experimental trials were conducted at a consistent engine speed of 2250 rpm across five distinct engine loads (4, 5.5, 7, 8.5, and 10 kW) to scrutinize engine performance and quantify exhaust emissions. An air-cooled, single-cylinder diesel engine served as the experimental apparatus. Pure Iraqi diesel (D) was used as a baseline, prior to the assessment of several fuel blends, including D80B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% diesel), D80B10BU10 (10% biodiesel, 10% butanol, 80% diesel), and D70B15BU15 (15% biodiesel, 15% butanol, 70% diesel). The results indicated a decline in engine performance across all fuel types, with the most pronounced deterioration observed at lower loads. The brake specific fuel consumption escalated by 13.37%, 16.98%, and 3.92% for the tested blends, relative to diesel. Concurrently, exhaust gas temperatures decreased by 12.5%, 23.5%, and 2.9%, respectively. Furthermore, CO emissions diminished by 22.00%, 46.0%, and 14.4%, while CO2 emissions rose by 16.67%, 41.36%, and 11.73%, respectively, when compared to diesel. HC concentrations were curtailed by 42.55%, 69.11%, and 10.64%, respectively. NOx emissions exhibited a reduction of 3.8% and 24.9% for D80B10BU10 and D70B15BU15, while a 3.5% increase was observed with D80B20. The findings suggest that ternary mixtures were associated with less favorable outcomes compared to their binary counterparts.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Developing a Simple Algorithm for Photovoltaic Array Fault Detection Using MATLAB/Simulink Simulation

easter joseph — 12-28-2023

With the escalating demand for energy and the concomitant depletion of fossil fuel reserves, solar energy has emerged as a sustainable alternative, offering both energy conservation and power-saving benefits. The optimization of photovoltaic (PV) system performance through vigilant monitoring is essential for maximizing energy production. This study aims to devise a novel algorithm that derives from photocurrent measurements at the string level, alongside the aggregate current output of the PV array. Simulations of a PV string/array were executed using MATLAB/Simulink to discern the effects of solar irradiance and temperature fluctuations on current parameters. A representative model comprising two commercial PV modules arranged in series was employed to construct a four-string PV array for analysis. Findings indicate that photocurrent and overall current output are significantly influenced by solar irradiance, whereas increases in saturation and reverse saturation currents with temperature correspond to diminished current output. A rudimentary fault detection algorithm emerged from the simulation data, facilitating the identification of faults by juxtaposing the current from a PV string against a benchmark PV cell. Prompt detection and amelioration of faults—particularly those within groups two and three, which are characterized by 10–40% and greater than 40% reductions in current, respectively, and commonly associated with shading, soiling, and hotspots—are imperative for averting substantial energy yield losses and prolonging system longevity. It is crucial to acknowledge that daily variations in weather conditions may affect the algorithm’s efficacy, underscoring the need for ongoing refinement.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Impact of Magnetic Field on the Stability of Laminar Flame in a Counter Burner

ayad muter khlaif — 12-28-2023

This study investigates the influence of magnetic fields on the behavior of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)/air mixtures, with a particular focus on the stability limits and flame temperature. The primary objective is to elucidate the impact of magnetic fields on the modification of premixed and diffusion laminar combustion within a vertical counter-flow burner. An integrated experimental setup, encompassing a counter-flow burner, an optical image system, an electromagnetic induction charger, and a digital image processing technique, was employed. This apparatus array enabled the capture of flame images across varying intensities of magnetic field and air/fuel ratios, thereby providing comprehensive data on both diffusion and premixed flames. A sophisticated image processing technique was utilized to delineate details concerning the counter flame front’s geometry, including shape, area, and diameter. Acquired flame images were subsequently subjected to analysis using MATLAB software. Findings indicated a slight increase in flame temperature concurrent with the intensification of the magnetic field for both premixed and diffusion combustion. Notably, the presence of a magnetic field significantly enhanced flame stability across both flame categories. Furthermore, the flame disk operating area demonstrated a proportional expansion with the magnetic field intensity, with a more pronounced effect observed at 5000 gausses in the diffusion flame as compared to its premixed counterpart. In conclusion, this investigation underscores the pivotal role of magnetic fields in augmenting flame stability, offering valuable insights towards optimizing combustion processes.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Design and Simulation of a Renewable Energy-Based Smart Grid for Ma’an City, Jordan: A Feasibility Study

mais alzgool — 12-28-2023

The escalating costs, transmission losses, and environmental ramifications associated with fossil fuel utilization have catalyzed a paradigm shift towards Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in electricity generation. Smart Grid (SG) technologies, which are inherently reliant on a RES-exclusive electricity framework, facilitate efficient energy consumption and the distribution of decentralized energy resources. This investigation underscores the integration of RES within SG infrastructure and the potential for Jordan’s transition towards an SG-enabled future. Situated in a locale characterized by abundant solar irradiance and significant wind velocities, Ma’an city presents an optimal case study for RES deployment. An amalgamated RES system, comprising wind and photovoltaic (PV) modules with an aggregate capacity of 180 MW, has been meticulously sized and designed to cater to the electrical demand of Ma'an. The load requirements for Ma'an were determined through an analysis of the city's average annual energy consumption, adjusted for population growth projections. To bolster the system's reliability and cater to emergency load demands, a storage solution has been integrated. The performance of the proposed design was substantiated and assessed via mathematical modeling and simulation analysis, utilizing the MATLAB Simulink platform. The simulations were conducted accounting for factors impinging upon each system's production capacity, inclusive of transmission line losses. Moreover, a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller was incorporated and evaluated under simulated fault conditions, ensuring system disconnection within a five-second window subsequent to fault detection. The simulation outcomes exhibited congruence with the mathematical model predictions. Economically, the installation of the proposed systems is justifiable, with projected savings of approximately 80 million Jordanian Dinars (JD) annually and a favorable payback period of 14 months. The levelized cost of electricity is competitively priced at 14.41 JD/MWh. The findings advocate for the expansion of RES integration across Jordan, suggesting the feasibility of a nationwide RES-based SG implementation.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Evaluation of 15-m-Height Solar Chimney Model Integrated with TES under Tropical Climate

hussain h. al-kayiem — 12-28-2023

The present study examines a solar chimney power generation model under tropical conditions, with a focus on the impact of ground absorber dimensions on system efficacy. An experimental and numerical analysis was conducted using a 15-meter-high solar chimney, where the ground was transformed into a sensible thermal energy storage system through the application of black-painted pebbles. Three configurations were assessed to determine system performance: Case-1 and Case-2, featuring collector diameters of 4.9 m and 6.6 m respectively, and Case-3, which introduces an innovative design extending the diameter of the sensible thermal energy storage (TES) by 2.0 m beyond the collector’s canopy. Performance was gauged using a metric defined by the product of mass flow rate and temperature increase of the air. Numerical models were validated against experimental outcomes, with results showing a satisfactory correlation. It was found that the performance metric in Case-2 doubled, while in Case-3, it tripled relative to Case-1. The enhancement in performance in Case-3 was further evidenced by a 30.4% increase in air velocity at the chimney base over Case-2, and a 36.7% increase over Case-1, highlighting the efficacy of the extended sensible TES. These findings suggest that enlarging the TES area beyond the collector's canopy can significantly improve solar chimney performance, potentially enabling a reduction in construction scale and a concurrent decrease in electricity production costs. This approach represents a promising avenue for addressing the dual challenges of structural height and efficiency that currently hamper the feasibility of solar chimney power generation on an industrial scale.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Lumped Capacitance Thermal Modelling Approaches for Different Cylindrical Batteries

aanandsundar arumugam — 12-28-2023

In the pursuit of optimal energy storage solutions, rechargeable batteries have gained significant attention for their applications in electric vehicles, aircraft, and satellites. This research focuses on the thermal management of lithium manganese dioxide and nickel-cadmium batteries, utilizing the lumped capacitance thermal modelling technique in the preliminary stage of analysis. The study focuses on the general lumped capacitance thermal equation to estimate battery temperature through analytical and numerical methods. The numerical approach employs the fourth order Runge-Kutta’s method, which involved less computational cost, relatively stable and accurate to estimate the temperature with a variable internal resistance, a crucial factor in thermal behaviour analysis. In contrast, the analytical approach assumes a uniform temperature distribution across the battery's surface, simplifying the gradual variance between internal conductive and external convective thermal resistances. A comparative analysis against experimental data using error criterion techniques reveals that the numerical model, considering dynamic changes in internal resistance, aligns more closely with experimental findings and offers a statistically superior fit compared to the analytical model assuming constant internal resistance. This study underscores the effectiveness of the lumped capacitance thermal modelling technique in battery thermal management, emphasizing the importance for dynamic internal resistance for analysis of thermal behaviour.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Bibliometric Analysis and Review of Low and Medium Enthalpy Geothermal Energy: Environmental, Economic, and Strategic Insights

gricelda herrera-franco — 09-24-2023

Geothermal energy, an efficacious and readily available resource, has emerged as a sustainable alternative poised to satisfy escalating global energy demands. This study undertakes a comprehensive analysis of low (heat below 100℃) and medium (heat between 100℃ to 150℃) enthalpy geothermal energy through a bibliometric approach and a literature survey, with an emphasis on the environmental and economic aspects. The methodological procedure encompasses: (i) systematic information processing and configuration, (ii) bibliometric assessment of the evolution and domains of the investigated field, (iii) evaluation of environmental and economic contributions, and (iv) Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis, facilitated by a Focus Group comprising experts from the energy sector. The research on low and medium enthalpy geothermal energy has been identified as an expanding field, with five primary areas of focus: sustainability, cascade systems, heat pumps, numerical modelling, and groundwater potential in geothermal systems. Italy, the United States, and Germany have been recognized as the leading contributors in terms of scientific production. Geothermal energy, from an environmental standpoint, aids the decarbonisation process, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and other renewable energy sources. Although initial investment costs are considerable, the financial recovery period is relatively short. The promotion of geothermal energy, alongside the active involvement of academia, corporations, and governments, bolsters energy and socio-economic development, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Reducing Energy Consumption in Iraqi Campuses with Passive Building Strategies: A Case Study at Al-Khwarizmi College of Engineering

reem al-hadeethi — 09-24-2023

University campuses in Iraq are substantial energy consumers, with consumption increasing significantly during periods of high temperatures, underscoring the necessity to enhance their energy performance. Energy simulation tools offer valuable insights into evaluating and improving the energy efficiency of buildings. This study focuses on simulating passive architectural design for three selected buildings at Al-Khwarizmi College of Engineering (AKCOE) to examine the effectiveness of their cooling systems. DesignBuilder software was employed, and climatic data for a year in Baghdad was collected to assess the influence of passive architectural strategies on the thermal performance of the targeted buildings. The simulations revealed that the implementation of passive architectural design in AKCOE buildings led to a decrease in energy consumption for cooling purposes. Energy savings were achieved through natural ventilation, which minimized heat gain, and by employing continuous sun protection with double-glazed windows. By adopting a passive cooling strategy in AKCOE facilities, annual energy consumption for cooling within the campus could potentially be reduced by up to 23.6 percent. In conclusion, it was found that the current glazing system utilized in Iraqi building construction significantly contributes to electrical energy consumption.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Economic Feasibility Investigation of On-Grid and Off-Grid Solar Photovoltaic System Installation in Central Java

zainal arifin — 09-24-2023

Solar energy, as the most abundant renewable energy source, has garnered significant attention for its potential in electricity generation. Photovoltaic (PV) panels, capable of converting solar energy into electricity, have been widely considered for residential applications, including on-grid and off-grid systems. This study seeks to evaluate the economic feasibility of implementing on-grid and off-grid solar PV systems in residential settings through a case study in Gemolong, Sragen. The Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) software is employed to simulate these systems, providing an economic analysis over a specified time period. Results indicate that the on-grid system presents a more favorable option for the Gemolong region, owing to its optimized monthly production, minimal maintenance costs, and investment potential. The total installation cost for the on-grid system is estimated to be Rp 64,985,200.00, compared to the off-grid system’s cost of Rp 745,731,208.82. Furthermore, the on-grid system demonstrates a 13.3% advantage in energy production. Based on the energy and economic analyses, the on-grid PV system is recommended for adoption in the Gemolong area.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Effect of Operational Parameters on Anaerobic Digestion of Municipal and Sugar Industry Wastewater

devona sathiyah — 09-24-2023

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a versatile process that entails low energy consumption and has low capital costs. Unfortunately, this process is not widely commercialized due to instabilities. The instability in the system is due to variations in the feedstock, operating, and environmental conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of organic loading rate (OLR), temperature, and pH on the AD system. An online pH and temperature monitoring sensor calibration were also studied to adjust AD parameters. The water quality parameters that were monitored were turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and colour. Wastewater with a low and high organic loading had a 90% and 36% COD reduction respectively after 5 days. Without pH adjustment, the pH of the system was 4.1 to 4.4 and the maximum COD reduction was 56.2%. When the pH was increased to 6.8, the maximum COD reduction was 66.5%. For the unadjusted temperature (room temperature), a maximum COD reduction of 56% was achieved. When the temperature was increased to 40℃, the maximum COD reduction was 66%. The increase in pH and temperature resulted in a 10% increase in COD reduction in the AD system. From the study, online pH, and temperature sensor calibrations errors were found to be 0.5 and 0.05 respectively as compared with the manual analytical technique. One of the limitations of this study was obtaining the apparatus to control temperature and pH at the same time. Future research will involve the automation of the AD system will the determined optimum conditions. This suggests smart monitoring and control sensors of AD operational parameters can repurpose its reliability for commercial activity.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 3, Pages undefined: The Impact of Renewable Energy Consumption on Economic Growth in Bangladesh: Evidence from ARDL and VECM Analyses

md safiullah kayesh — 09-24-2023

In pursuit of achieving developed country status by 2041, Bangladesh is committed to comprehensive socioeconomic development—a goal intrinsically tied to the critical task of securing a reliable, uninterrupted energy supply while optimizing utilization of available energy sources. This study used 1980–2018 annual data to examine the implications of energy transition and causal relationships among economic growth, renewable energy, and natural gas consumption in Bangladesh. A rigorous two-step process investigated the causal correlations among variables. The autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) model was used to scrutinize long-term relationships, while a vector error correction (VEC) model was used to ascertain the directionality of these causal relationships. The outcomes of the bound tests conclusively revealed the presence of a long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables. Causality analyses indicated a unidirectional causal relationship from renewable energy consumption to economic growth in the long run and from natural gas consumption to economic growth in the short run. A bidirectional causal relationship was found between natural gas and renewable energy consumption in the long run. These findings underscore the potential of energy conservation strategies to catalyze economic growth and suggest an avenue for Bangladesh to achieve its ambitious socioeconomic development goals.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Hybrid Battery Systems: An Investigation for Maritime Transport

fabio mandrile — 09-24-2023

The electrification of naval propulsion systems is increasingly investigated as a promising avenue to reduce CO₂ emissions. This study explores the application of electric propulsion in diverse waterborne transport sectors, ranging from commercial and industrial cargo ships to naval vessels, passenger cruise liners, ferries, and small recreational boats. In these systems, propellers are powered by large electric motors, which are progressively transitioning to induction or synchronous multiphase solutions. A crucial component of these systems is the Battery Storage System (BSS), which is integrated with an energy storage management system to create a grid that powers the electric motors. The BSS is integral to the vessel's operational autonomy, providing consistent energy for continuous operation. A Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS) composed of two or more battery packs with varying characteristics may be deployed to prevent battery oversizing. This system comprises cells with different technologies, specifically interconnected through distinctive Battery Management Systems (BMSs) and converters. This paper delves into the key challenges and optimization of HESS modular solutions, outlining the energy storage requirements and management strategies necessary for diverse vessel working cycles. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the system's ability to supply a realistic 10-hour load cycle, even when starting from State of Charges (SOCs) unbalanced by over 30%. These findings illuminate the potential of HESS solutions in maintaining effective and sustainable electric propulsion in naval transport systems.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Public Views on the Importance and Expansion of Renewable Electricity Production over the Last 35 Years in Idaho, USA

robert l. mahler — 09-24-2023

In 2022, Idaho stood fourth among U.S. states in renewable electricity share, with 74% generated from renewable sources like hydro, solar, wind, and geothermal. The dominant contributor has historically been hydropower. However, due to population growth and limited potential for new dam sites, reliance on solar and wind energy has increased. This paper aims to document the evolution of Idahoan public opinion regarding renewable energy's role in electricity production over 35 years. Public surveys were conducted every five years from 1987 to 2022, each involving at least 500 respondents. The surveys reveal strong public support for enhancing Idaho's renewable energy share. Over 75% of respondents expressed pride in the state's renewable electricity generation. Support for solar and wind energy has grown from 60% in 1987 to over 80% in 2022. Geographical preferences emerged, with south-western and south-central residents favoring solar, south-eastern residents favoring wind, and northern residents divided between hydro, solar, and wind. The surveys disclose that Idahoans: (1) strongly support increased renewable electricity production, (2) endorse solar and wind energy as key contributors, and (3) desire to replace Idaho’s remaining non-renewable energy production with renewable sources within the next decade.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Enhanced Biogas Production through Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Agricultural Wastes and Wastewater: A Case Study in South Africa

nqobile mkhize — 06-15-2023

The sustainable management of agricultural wastes (AWs) and their valorization for biogas production offer promising alternatives to fossil fuels and contribute to environmentally responsible waste management strategies. This study examines the anaerobic co-digestion (Co-AD) of various AWs, including apples, bananas, carrots, butternuts, and potatoes, combined with wastewater (WW) from a local fruit and vegetable market, using activated sludge (AS) as the inoculum. The biomethane potential test (BMP) was performed in 1L capacity digesters with an 80% working volume and maintained at 40℃ over a 21-day period. A mixing ratio of 1:1 (% w/w) between WW and AWs and 1:2 between the co-substrates and inoculum was utilized. Biogas production was monitored daily to evaluate the effectiveness of the Co-AD process. The control group yielded a total production of 450 mL/day, while the apple and banana substrates demonstrated the highest biogas output at 595 mL/day and 585 mL/day, respectively. The potato substrate generated 525 mL/day, mixed AWs produced 485 mL/day, and butternut and carrot substrates resulted in 485 mL/day and 475 mL/day, respectively. These findings suggest that the Co-AD of AWs and WW, in combination with AS, presents a viable and eco-friendly approach to enhanced biogas production.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Towards a Sustainable Design: Integrating Spatial Planning with Energy Planning When Designing a University Campus

bushra zalloom — 06-15-2023

Spatial planning and energy planning are two crucial topics related to each other, as both subjects have environmental, social, and economic benefits. Worldwide, few researchers have studied the integration of spatial planning with energy planning, however, in Jordan, this subject remained unexplored. This study aims to assess the sustainable planning practices that are implemented in small-scale projects, it explores the spatial issues that planners should consider to increase the integration of energy technologies into the planning process. A mixed methods approach is employed in data collection and analyses to enhance the accuracy and creditability of the findings. The spatial dimensions of energy planning which include analyzing the project’s master plan, evaluating the urban structure, and calculating energy production are used to assess the existing situation of Zarqa University in Jordan. Numerical and data analyses, site analyses, and field observations are conducted to achieve the research aim. Zarqa University was selected because it is the first Jordanian university that implements energy planning strategies when designing its campus. The study findings confirm the importance of integrating these two disciplines which contribute to achieving effective planning policies, it recommends replicating those strategies in other small projects to enhance their level of sustainability.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Enhancing Controlled Environment Agriculture in Desert Ecosystems with AC/DC Hybrid Solar Technology

arash nejatian — 06-15-2023

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable farming practices within the challenging climate of the Arabian Peninsula. Traditional CEAs, however, are confronted with excessive water and electricity consumption due to the region's elevated temperatures and humidity levels. To address these challenges, an innovative project was carried out at the Al Dhaid Research Station, United Arab Emirates, integrating solar-powered cooling and irrigation, closed hydroponic systems, net-house structures, root zone cooling, and ultra-low-energy drippers. The study employed a cooled greenhouse alongside two net houses, one of which was equipped with a solar-powered cooling and irrigation system. Cucumber crops were cultivated within each structure, demonstrating that the combined technologies could prolong production periods despite increasing temperatures, while simultaneously reducing energy consumption by 95% and water usage by 80%, without compromising crop yield. The findings of this study suggest that the implementation of this novel approach holds significant potential for boosting crop productivity and water efficiency in desert agriculture systems.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Dust Effect on Solar Energy Systems and Mitigation Methods

ahmed amine hachicha — 06-15-2023

Solar energy systems present a potential solution to global challenges in energy production and addressing environmental issues. However, such systems' performance could deteriorate in harsh weather conditions, which may lead to short- and long-term degradation. Particular attention should be paid to dust accumulation affecting both types of solar systems: Photovoltaic (PV) and Concentrated Solar Power systems (CSP). This review discusses the influencing factors affecting dust accumulation and the dust impact on solar systems. The comparison of dust accumulation effect on both technologies is then assessed. The reported dust accumulation studies showed more performance deterioration in CSP systems than in PV systems. In both cases, dust accumulation leads to a drop in optical characteristics resulting in a loss of energy yield. Potential mitigation methods and their advantages and disadvantages are also reviewed. It is concluded and recommended from the review analysis that dust accumulated on solar systems should be considered in the design and operation phases to define appropriate cleaning methods and frequencies.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Experimental Study of PV Panel Performance Using Backside Water Cooling Chamber

ilaf n. rasool — 06-15-2023

Due to high solar irradiation and the high ambient temperature in Iraq, the solar cell temperature rises, and the electrical power output drops accordingly. In this study, an experimental photovoltaic (PV) panel prototype was developed to study the PV module's performance and power production efficiency. The developed photovoltaic module uses a water-cooling chamber for cooling. This experimental study uses a water-cooling system chamber technique at the rear side of the PV panel. The cooling system solar panel is a closed cycle, and the cooling water contacts the panel directly through the rear side of the PV panel using different flow rates. The results showed that the electrical efficiency increased by 10.42%, 11.87%, 13.77%, 18.1%, and 19.72% when mass flow rates of 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, and 3.5 l/min, respectively, were used. The thermal efficiency at 1.5 and 3.5 l/min is 49.7% and 79.2%, respectively.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Experimental Evaluation of a Hybrid Inclined Solar Chimney for Power Generation

raed a. jessam — 06-15-2023

The intermittent nature of solar energy is a problem for power demand-supply. In particular, power generation by a solar chimney is insufficient due to low efficiency and interrupted power production. In the current research, an experimental model of an inclined solar chimney is integrated with an external heat source to develop a hybrid solar chimney. The developed hybrid solar chimney utilizes the exhaust flue gas from a lab-scale experimental gas turbine. The exhaust gases from the gas turbine were supplied through a passage underneath the absorber plate of the solar chimney. The absorber plate is modified into a heat exchanger by adding extended surfaces in the flue passage. Furthermore, the hybrid system is experimented outdoors to utilize solar irradiation, and a burner produces the hot gases. Experimental measurements have been carried out in three different cases. The investigated system performance to produce power is enhanced by 91.0% by integrating the inclined solar chimney with an external heat source at an average temperature of only 88.0℃. The results show that the mean enhancement in the air temperature rise of the hybrid mode is 33% compared to the solar mode; this considerably improves the solar chimney performance. The proved concept of the hybrid inclined solar chimney could be adopted in existing thermal power plants to recover the heat losses in the flue gases.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Enhancing Greenhouse Thermal Management with Flat Plate Solar Collectors and Al2O3-Water Nanofluid

zhyan f. hassan — 06-15-2023

Flat Plate Solar Collectors (FPSC) are one of the most environmentally friendly and energy-efficient heating solutions. In this work, the thermal performance of the FPSC for a greenhouse heating system was experimentally and numerically investigated by utilizing distilled water as a working fluid and Al₂O₃-water nanofluid with two different nanoparticle concentrations of 0.2wt.% and 0.5wt.%. The simulation model was conducted using TRNSYS 18, and its outcome was validated with experimental results. As a first step, the study estimates the maximum required amount of energy for a greenhouse in the Scientific Research Center at Erbil, Iraq. A temperature of 23℃ was selected as a set point temperature in the greenhouse, which is essential for the experiments needed for developing several plants. The most interesting finding was that when nanofluids were used as a working fluid, the efficiency gain was larger than with water only. The highest collector efficiency was attained when 0.5wt.% nanofluid was used in the FPSC, which increased the collector efficiency by 17.5% over the water case. Additionally, FR (UL) values for Al₂O₃-nanofluid and water are approximately close to each other, while for all applied concentrations, Al₂O₃-nanofluid's FR (τα) values were more significant than water. Further analysis showed that, during the coldest months of the year, the system could raise the inner air temperature of the greenhouse, which is ideal for farming applications.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Exergy Analysis of Chest Freezer Working with R-134a and R-600a at Steady State Conditions

hayder m. ali — 06-15-2023

In the present work, exergy analysis has been experimentally evaluated for a chest freezer to assist in sizing calculations and selecting the most suitable working fluid, which can reduce the power consumption. In the present work, exergy analysis has been experimentally evaluated for a chest freezer to assist in sizing calculations and selecting the most suitable working fluid to reduce power consumption. The experimental measurements were carried out using a 150 litters chest freezer volume capacity running on R-134a and R-600a using different compressors. The freezer provides measurement instruments for pressure, temperature, refrigerant mass flow and power consumption. The tests were carried out with a standard ambient temperature of 32. The results show that the evaporator had the highest exergy loss value of 59% for R-134a and 62% for R-600a. Compressor exergy losses are 64% for R-134a and 63% for R-600a. The condenser showed exercise losses of 79% for R-134a and 75% for R-600a, while the limitation device (capillary tube) had exercise losses of 87% for R134a and 99.5% for R-600a. The thermal performance of the chest freezer represented by the second low efficiency is 43% for R-134a and 50% for R-600a. The thermal performance of the freezer with R-600a is better than R-134a due to the energy consumption reducing and evaporator behaviour.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Effectiveness of PV/T Passive Natural Air Cooling by Backside Attached Fins

sundus s. al-azawiey — 06-15-2023

An existing PV system is cooled by heat dissipation to air by straight fins arrays attached at the backside of the panels. However, a little average temperature drop has been achieved in the plant. The current research aims to simulate and investigate the low cooling performance experienced in the plant and recommend improved PV cooling by backside installed fins. A CAD model was constructed with CATIA software and imported to ANSYS-Fluent to simulate and investigate the cause of low cooling performance. In addition, cooling performance by 45°, 90°and 135° have been studied. The solar PV panel has 1000-mm-width and 2000-mm-length, whereas the fins' base dimensions are 830-mm-width, and 1260-mm-length and each fin has 80-mm-height. The reference case study's average temperature measured in the actual site is 46.9℃, while the simulation prediction is 48.4℃. The 3.3% difference suggests that the simulation procedure is sufficient to investigate the other cases. Solar PV is paired with the fins air cooling system, stimulating the PV/T with only a 2.7% difference between the actual measurements and the simulation prediction. The bare panel simulation results predicted the backside temperature to be 13.4℃ above the ambient temperature. The 45° and 90° oriented fins reduced the backside temperature to 4.2℃ and 9.54℃ above the ambient temperature. In contrast, the 135° oriented fins have a negative cooling effect, as they increased the backside temperature to 19.05℃ above the ambient temperature. The analysis suggests that the low-performing cooling in the physical system is due to the bad thermal contact between the array base plate and the panel's backside.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Anaerobic Digestion Process Modeling Under Uncertainty: A Narrative Review

zahir barahmand — 03-30-2023

Growing concern about global climate change has led to considerable interest in investigating renewable energy sources such as the biological conversion of biomass to methane in an anaerobic environment. Through a series of complicated biochemical interactions, it uses various bacterial species to degrade biodegradable material in the feedstock. Due to the complex and interacting biochemical processes, anaerobic digestion has nonlinear dynamics. Anaerobic digestion is highly at risk of instabilities and uncertainties because of its dynamic and nonlinear behavior, uncertain feedstock quality, and sensitivity to the process’s environmental conditions. Therefore, effectively operating a biogas production unit necessitates a thorough understanding of the system’s uncertainties. The present study aims to identify and assess the sources and methods of coping with the uncertainties in anaerobic digestion processes through a narrative review. Moreover, the knowledge gap is also investigated to reveal the challenges and opportunities to have a robust model. The results indicate that the unpredictability of model parameters and input variables were the most significant source of uncertainty, and the Monte Carlo technique, confident interval, and interval observers, as well as sensitivity analysis were the most frequently used tools to cope with these uncertainties.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Prediction of Wind Speed and Power with LightGBM and Grid Search: Case Study Based on Scada System in Turkey

seyed matin malakouti — 03-30-2023

Due to the speeding up of climate change, there is an urgent need to switch from using fossil fuels to producing energy using renewable energy sources. This change has to happen as soon as feasibly possible. Thus, in this article, to forecast wind speed and wind energy output in Turkey, the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) approach was applied, the hyperparameters of the LightGBM were tuned to the grid search method, and finally some evaluation criteria such as root mean square error and R² were calculated to show the performances of the LightGBM. Fortunately, an R² value of 0.98 for forecasting wind speed was found after 25 s. Additionally, the assessment criterion R² =1 for predicting the production power of the wind turbine was attained after 90 s.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Analysis and Assessment of Onshore and Offshore Wind Turbines Failures

mertcan kavakli — 03-30-2023

The rapidly increasing energy demand and the inevitable negative effects on the environment caused by fossil-fuelled energy production have made renewable energy technologies increasingly important and preferred among the widely used energy sources during the last decades. Wind energy is one of the leading renewable energy technologies. Wind energy is a carbon-free, environmentally friendly and competitive technology. A step forward in production of wind energy is offshore and onshore wind turbines, with their numerous advantages. Today, the increasing energy needs make onshore and offshore wind turbine applications an increasingly widespread renewable energy source. However, with this change, challenges arise during the operation phases as being associated with the strength of the wind turbines. Potential failures must be known in advance so that they can be dealt with strongly and effectively in the design phase. Damages and failures have a negative effect on the continuation of the operation and cause material and economic impacts. In this paper, the findings from a collection of failure data are presented. The database is available on request. The novelty of this paper is to assess and analyse the damages to wind turbines onshore and offshore in order to reduce the risk of potential failures, damages and collapse of wind turbines. According to the results of these studies and analyses, the database of failures experienced is considered to represent the general failure rate in the industry. This paper brings solutions and suggestions for future studies by pointing out risks and the failure situations that wind turbines are exposed to. It can help innovative solutions with the presentation of a detailed view of risk and failure situations.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Kinta District Driving Cycle Analysis by Using DC-TRAD Conceptual Model

arunkumar subramaniam — 03-30-2023

An accurate technique of driving cycle development is important. Such a technique should be dominantly based on real-world driving behavior to ensure it represents the profile of the selected route. A driving cycle often is the combination of analyses of huge numbers of micro-trips under different conditions of traffic. This research is an initiative to improve the accuracy of the method of data collection; this contributes directly to one of the major procedures of driving cycle development, namely data collection. A driving cycle tracking device (DC-TRAD) is a device developed to improve the data collection strategy with integration of Internet-of-Things to manage the huge amount of data collected. A conceptual design of DC-TRAD is developed, and the flexibility of the device is made use in this research to compare and analyze the driving cycle of Kinta district.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Review and Comparative Analysis of Renewable Energy Policies in the European Union, Russia and the United States

anzhelika karaeva — 03-30-2023

The activity of the world community in the field of climate and environmental conservation is increasing every year. The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015 by the majority of governments, and the additional goals set on COP26 in 2021 set the objectives of maximum reduction of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and the transition to renewable energy sources (RES). Consequently, the energy sector, as the largest sector of the world economy and the largest environmental polluter, is undergoing the greatest change. The development and implementation of an effective policy in the field of RES, which is part of the energy development strategy, is one of the factors of renewable energy market’s rapid development and stimulating the transition to clean energy. However, despite the measures taken by the world community to reduce the environmental impact of the energy sector and the development of renewable energy, the volume of greenhouse gas emissions continues to show an upward trend: from 2000 to 2021, the volume of CO₂emissions produced by the power sector increased by 74.7%. This trend might be associated with a low level of elaboration of the current renewable energy policy, with barriers to the development of the renewable energy market or with the specifics of the energy sector. The purpose of this study is to review and analyze renewable energy policies in the European Union, Russia, and the United States in order to identify specific approaches to the development of renewable energy, key tools, and barriers. The current state of the energy sectors of the considered countries was analyzed, their features were identified, and a review as well as a comparative analysis of their renewable energy policies were conducted.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2023, Volume 8, Issue 1, Pages undefined: The Impact of Political Risk on the Economic Efficiency of Russian Renewable Energy Projects

galina s. chebotareva — 03-30-2023

This article is the second of the author’s works devoted to a comprehensive study of the economic efficiency of Russian renewable energy (RE) projects. The main goal of this paper is to study the level of influence of political risk on the economic efficiency of RE projects that are implemented in the Russian energy market using a state support program. Fifty-two solar, wind and small hydropower projects, which have received support in the form of a capacity-based support scheme in 2018-2020, were selected as objects of research. The methodological basis of the work was the classical methods of investment analysis and specific industry approach. They were supplemented with the author’s tool for calculating the monetary equivalent of political risk that takes into account the probability of the termination of support from the state. The practice-based assessment utilized the developed scenarios depending on changes in foreign and domestic international credit ratings of the country. The study of the impact of political risk for three stages of RE projects was carried out. Based on the results of the analysis, conclusions were drawn about generally insignificant influence of political risk on the economic efficiency of Russian RE projects. Recommendations for the development of state support programs in the event of the impact of political risks only were generated. The obtained research results are of practical and methodological value. It will be used in studying the impact of other specific risks on the effectiveness of Russian RE projects, as well as in developing recommendations enabling the Russian RE market to give up state support.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages undefined: A Science and Education Platform for Intellectual Support of Breakthrough Teams in the Energy Sector

lazar d. gitelman

Making a breakthrough in the energy industry is a particularly laborious cross-disciplinary challenge due to the extreme complexity of production systems and the necessity to ensure the compatibility of a huge number of technologies and industrial and managerial systems of various nature. This makes it highly relevant to provide knowledge-intensive support for teams that implement projects aimed at breakthrough transformations. This article describes a specialized science and education platform that is being rolled out by the authors at a number of major energy companies in Russia and at Ural Federal University. The platform has features of a communications platform that brings together science, education, and energy companies, and of a digital ecosystem that serves as a framework for customized services for stakeholders. The platform uses an operation mechanism that is designed to ensure the reproduction of knowledge that is in line with corresponding trends and changes emerging in the global, national, and industrial contexts, and promptly converts it into learning content and a project agenda for breakthrough teams. An original methodology for the training of breakthrough teams and arguments for the appropriateness of using a platform-based approach in order to increase intellectual capital in the energy industry constitute the scientific novelty of the article. This article has a practical value to it as it demonstrates the scaling capability of the elements of the conceptual model, of its operation mechanism, and the best practices of using a science and education platform as the organizational basis for breakthrough projects in the energy sector.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Narratives of Vernacular Habitat in Maramureș

andra camelia clițan

To preserve the harmony within a vernacular habitat, a delicate balance between living space, nature, and community must be maintained. This paper analyzes local communities from Maramureș, Romania, and their sustainable ways of living, and it also discusses the use of locally sourced materials in building settlements: a cautious combination of progressively integrating contemporary living solutions with preserving the powerful local heritage. Such initiatives become more challenging given that new, modern developments and rapid industrial changes tempt people away from ancient custom. In order to sustain the traditional habitat, as fundamental for the heritage preservation initiative, it is necessary to guide villagers in finding value and beauty locally and discourage them from migrating towards bigger cities or other countries. Based on two case studies of local craftsmen, Maria Zapca, a weaver from Săpânța, and Daniel Leș, a potter from Baia Sprie, the journey starts in Săpânța, home of the UNESCO heritage site The Merry Cemetery where the physical fabric of the place lends itself to sustaining local crafts and craftsmen. However, this is not an isolated case: Maramureș is famous throughout the world for its material culture such as wooden churches with tall spires – seven of them listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites – alongside a multitude of home decorating fabrics and traditional attire still made and used by locals. Regional resources such as clay, wood, stone, wool, or hemp stand as fundamentals in shaping the vernacular habitat. Furthermore, the region is well-known for preserving customs and practices, which emphasize local group members’ lineage to the wider community. People are proud of their heritage and are connected to the cultural values that help shape their identity.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages undefined: A Review on the Impact of Building Design and Operation on Buildings Cooling Loads

bara anaya

Energy consumption in buildings is considerably high in areas of hot and humid climates due to its association with high cooling loads. Electricity grids are highly affected by the consumption of cooling systems like air-conditioning and large refrigeration facilities, which significantly impact the economic and environmental sectors. As building design and operating parameters influence the cooling demand in the building, it is believed the root cause of the problem may be detected at an early building design stage. Thus, this review identifies the building design parameters that impact the cooling loads in build- ings that are geographically restricted to countries with hot and humid climates. The building’s design characteristics are classified into four main categories: glass characteristics, wall characteristics, building orientation and dimensions (BO & D), and building cooling system. The review was conducted over high-rise and low-rise buildings. Annual energy requirements (in some cases overlapping with electricity consumption), annual cooling loads, and peak cooling loads are the three forms in which energy demand reductions in buildings are represented. It is found that maximum annual cooling load savings are obtained through cooling systems, followed by wall characteristics, then glass characteristics, with the least for BO & D, with maximum reductions of up to 61%, 59%, 55%, and 21%, respectively. As for the peak cooling load reductions, wall characteristics, cooling systems, and glass characteristics had almost the same average values of 18.7%, 15.2%, and 17.2%, respectively, while BO & D are not reported due to the incomparable number of case studies. The parameters that have the most influence on reductions in peak cooling loads are wall and glass characteristics. In general, savings that are associated with wall characteristics are more significant for low-rise buildings than for high-rise buildings, while the latter is more influenced by glass characteristics. This is a reasonable conclusion since high-rise buildings, in general, acquire higher window-to-wall ratios than the former. In general, most studies considered glass characteristics, while fewer studies considered BO & D. This review has shown various aspects that are vital in studying building cooling load demand and its related energy performance.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages undefined: The Importance of Self-Generation of Electricity Through Controlled Recycling: A Case Study in West Sub-Saharan African Regions

francisco javier balbás garcía

Controlled recycling of different materials, typical to household appliances, from the landfills located in developing countries in West Sub-Saharan Africa and their subsequent reuse can favour the social, economic and environmental sustainability of the involved regions. This process reduces the unhealthy conditions associated with landfills and the inadequate use of fuels, and it also solves certain deficits in the population. As a continuation of previous studies, this article proposes a practical example of manufacture through the controlled reuse of an asynchronous wind-powered electricity generation system, analysing the benefits and possibilities detected, especially in domestic self-generation and in the reduction of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. In summary, the topic is the manufacture of an energy generating system using recycled material for domestic use. In this way, the associated self-generation of electricity can supply or reduce the energy demand of a large part of the population in these regions that do not have electricity supply; for example, for a household in Nigeria, it would save between 15% and 75% of the electricity supply. Providing electricity supply also prevents deforestation in regions that use natural biomass as an alternative energy source, an issue that has a global impact on CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Short Communication: Has Indonesia been Unable to Compete in the World Biodiesel Trade During the Implementation of the Biodiesel Blending Mandate?

yoyon muzayyin

To meet the domestic demand for biodiesel, because the application of the biodiesel blending mandate is very aggressive and even exceeds that of all countries in the world, it is suspected that Indonesia, which is involved in export trade, has lost its export competitiveness when compared to other leading biodiesel exporting countries in the world. The purpose of this study is to determine whether biodiesel can survive or lose its competitiveness with the application of the biodiesel blend- ing mandate in that country which is the highest when compared to all other biodiesel producing and exporting countries. By using the analysis method of export market share and comparative advantage, research was conducted to determine whether Indonesian biodiesel has export competitiveness or not when compared to other leading biodiesel exporting countries. The results show that the average market share of Indonesia’s biodiesel exports is still higher when compared to that of the majority of biodiesel exporting countries and including biodiesel exporting countries that have a comparative advantage even when the biodiesel blending mandate is enforced every year com- pared to the majority of the world’s leading biodiesel exporting countries that have a comparative disadvantage.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Assessing and Prioritizing Challenges Facing Bioenergy Supply Chain in Norway: A Delphi-AHP Method

zahir barahmand

Norway is leading the share of renewable energy in Europe by almost 75%. However, the share of bioenergy in Norway’s energy supply is insignificant. Bioenergy, the most common type of renewable energy, generates more energy than all other forms. This fact demonstrates the value of bioenergy, which will play an increasingly important part in the future energy mix. There are different biomass resources such as agricultural crop residues, forestry, wood processing residues, algae, dedicated energy crops, and municipal and wet organic waste. Biofuel markets in Norway are relatively immature. In past decades, bioenergy consumption in Norway ranged between 4% and 6% of the total primary energy supply. Norway has experienced a gradual increase in total energy supply of biofuels and wastes, and it has almost doubled since 1990, which is 80 petajoule in 2020. However, various barriers are hindering the development of the biomass industry. The present study aims to identify and classify Norway’s biomass supply chain challenges and prioritize them using the Delphi-Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Based on a comprehensive literature review, 42 challenges were recognized and classified into seven major categories. Then, a Delphi technique is used to define and choose the main challenges in the context of Norway through an expert panel. Finally, 4 main categories, 9 sub-categories, and 37 challenge indicators related to Norway’s biomass industry were selected. Moreover, the AHP method is employed to determine the weight of the challenges using a geometric mean approach. The results show that ‘high investment cost’, ‘Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission’, ‘minor differences between the energy prices achievable for the sales of heat and electricity’, and ‘small market size’ were the most critical challenge indicators.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Analysis of Sugarcane Ethanol Production for Energy Development: Case Study Ecuador

gricelda herrera-franco

The global energy issue is crucial for the development of the population and the environmental protection of the planet. The agricultural sector is part of economic, social and environmental development. However, in Ecuador, this sector has internal problems due to the suspension of the bioconversion project (e.g., ethanol production). This study aims to analyse the situation of sugarcane ethanol production in Ecuador and, through information management, to search for development strategies. The methodology includes the following: (i) sugarcane production analysis in Ecuador and ethanol distribution; (ii) policies and legal context concerning renewable energies and biofuels production in Ecuador; (iii) Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Ecological and Legal (PESTEL) as well as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of ethanol production, based on the criteria of the experts involved and (iv) strategic guidelines for sustainable sugarcane ethanol development. Ecuador has a potential for sugarcane ethanol production that is currently not fully exploited; that is, the consumption of this resource would reduce energy demand and economic problems in the agricultural sector. Sugarcane ethanol production has generated a direct contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (0.5%) and a contribution to social growth (751,799 people benefited). Ethanol production could increase by 20%, generating new alternatives for biofuel consumption. This progress in Ecuador would strengthen the contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals criteria and benefit the population with new job opportunities (approximately 42,000). Therefore, the production of ethanol from sugarcane, under a legal framework, benefits economic, social and ecological relations.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Methodological Approach to Choosing Alternatives for The Development of Energy Systems in Conditions of Uncertainty and Multi-Criteria

a. domnikov

Power engineering is one of the most dynamic industries in the modern world; it applies specific production and management technologies and also assumes a complex structural transformation of power systems and transition of power engineering business to a qualitatively new level providing sustainable power supply. Within the context of existing situation, the electric power industry, which is currently actively developing, is an important element of power infrastructure that requires a long-term and continuous solution of the challenges the industry faces. These are the circumstances of the development of methodological tools and decision-making procedures based on multi-criteria analysis, since the tasks of developing energy systems in modern conditions represent the most typical class of tasks where the problem of taking into account multi-criteria and uncertainty is most acute. The purpose of the study is to develop methods for the formation and comparison of options for the development of electric power systems in conditions of uncertainty and multi-criteria. The use of fuzzy set reporting models and new decision-making procedures based on fuzzy relations are proposed to address the development challenges. When addressing them, a considerable room for applying multi-criteria analysis algorithms to various aspects of the problem of power systems development in the fuzzy information environment was demonstrated. The results of the study are presented in the form of an analysis of the rational concentration of power plant capacities, which made it possible to identify the most effective way to reduce the plant’s installed capacity while increasing the role of environmental criteria.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Evaluation of Energy Flexibility Potential of a Typical Thermal Zone in Dubai

ali saberi derakhtenjani

With increased worldwide adoption of renewables, such as wind and solar, power grids face challenges with the inherent variability in renewables production. Energy flexibility is an essential part of the holistic solution toward this variable production. Buildings are the largest consumers of energy around the globe. However, they also have the ability to become energy flexible. This article investigates the potential energy flexibility of a building zone with typical thermal properties in compliance with the Dubai building code, located in Dubai, where the dominant energy load is cooling. The cooling load is provided through a convective air conditioning system, which is typical in Dubai, and the control strategy is based on the zone air temperature setpoint. Modulating the zone air temperature can result in significant changes in the cooling load, thus providing a certain amount of energy flexibility through the building thermal mass, which can then be used to shift and reduce the peak demand. We evaluated the effect of three strategies on the thermal zone, utilizing two energy flexibility indicators, the available structural energy storage capacity (C_ADR) and the storage efficiency (η_ADR). It is found that on a typical day in July, the analyzed zone can reach up to 570 Wh/m² of flexibility and achieve up to 3 h of load shifting, depending on the strategy utilized.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Architecture Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

mahmoud gomaa ahmed

High technology in the field of renewable energy has dominated various aspects of life in this era, especially architecture, by exploiting its potential to produce clean energy. It is a photovoltaic (PV) material that is used to replace traditional building materials in some parts of external buildings, such as the roof, skylights, or facades. It is increasingly used in the construction of new buildings as a main or additional source of electrical power generation to make the buildings self-sufficient in energy supply and thus reducing the costs of materials in external cladding of buildings and constitute an aesthetic design from other. One of the advantages of integrated solar power units, unlike non-integrated systems, is that they are the most common, are an integral part of the design, and are generally a better and more aesthetic combination than other solar options. These advantages led to the rapid development of sustainable sectors of the PV industry. The past decade has opened the door to countless solar photovoltaic (BIPV) buildings and other construction revolutions. In both new projects and renovations, BIPV has proven to be an energy-saving technology for use in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings as well as healthy buildings, and the harmony between sustainable design and nanotechnology assures promising future prospects for the construction industry to achieve sustainable buildings for a better built environment.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Environmental Impacts of Waste-to-Energy Processes in Mountainous Areas: The Case of an Alpine Region

macro tubino

Despite the efforts made towards circularity approaches in waste management, waste-to-energy (WtE) processes still represent a key step because they allow recovering energy from waste, reducing the amount of waste residuals that require landfill disposal and reusing part of the residuals for specific purposes (e.g. in the construction sector). However, the direct (incineration) or indirect (gasification) combustion of waste generates relatively high emissions of several air pollutants, with different levels of toxicity. In specific situations, the presence of a waste combustion plant may be incompatible with the presence of population nearby, especially in areas where the dispersion of air pollutants is limited by the local morphology and/or by unfavourable meteorological conditions. In such contexts, an alternative option exists: the conversion of the syngas produced by waste gasification into commercial products or fuels. This alternative would guarantee a significant reduction of the impacts on the local air quality, and it is expected to increase the level of acceptability of the WtE sector by the population: the syngas would not be burned locally to generate energy, but it would be used to produce valuable products or replace traditional fuels with more sustainable alternatives. Thus, this paper aims at discussing the potential local impacts of traditional WtE plants and the opportunities related to alternative WtE approaches that may increase the level of sustainability of this sector. This paper will make a specific reference to mountainous regions, where the atmospheric dispersion of air pollutants may be negatively affected by the local morphology. To better illustrate the potential issues involved, some case studies located in an Alpine valley of Italy will be presented and discussed.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Economic Efficiency of Russian Renewable Energy Projects in the Context of State Support of the Sector

galina s. chebotareva

A current global trend in the development of renewable energy (RES) is the phasing out of state support and the transition of this sector to an exclusively competitive market. The question however is, when, among other things, it would be possible for such projects to achieve self-sufficiency. Therefore, the main goal of this work is to study the economic efficiency of Russian RES projects as a prospect for their functioning outside of state support programs. Fifty-two solar, wind, and hydropower projects, which have received support in the form of a capacity-based support scheme in 2018–2020, were selected as the objects of research. The methodological basis of this work is the classical method of investment analysis, supplemented by an industry-specific approach. The efficiency assessment was carried out for the 15-year period of projects’ state support, as well as for the entire designed operation period of power plants. The dependence of the projects’ economic effect on a combination of factors, including the type of project, the commissioning period, regional affiliation, capital expenditures, etc., were studied. Based on the results of the analysis, the conclusions about the current unpreparedness of the Russian RES sector to operate in a competitive market were substantiated; proposals for the development of programs to support the sector were formulated. A unique factor that has a significant impact on the achievement of a positive economic effect by such projects – the value of specific capital expenditures – was identified. The obtained research results are of practical and methodological significance. They will be used in the development of a methodological approach to assess the effectiveness of the rejection by the Russian RES market of state support tools at certain stages of the projects.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Renewable Sources Urban Cells Microgrid: A Case Study

s. agostinelli

Nowadays, microgrid technologies play a relevant role in the research field as well as in the commercial market. The opportunity to provide electricity in wide areas without using centralized electrical infrastructure networks is a reliable key for achieving the European Union sustainability goals. In this regard, the proposed research aims at describing an electric microgrid configuration powered by a photovoltaic system, supplying three school buildings located in the center of Italy. Additionally, the resilience theme is deeply investigated, analyzing the use of an emergency generator system (EGS) in case of electric grid blackouts. MATLAB/Simulink was chosen to simulate the users’ energy demand as well as to calculate the microgrid performance. Results show that almost the total consumption of the microgrid is covered by the photovoltaic system, and the use of an EGS allows energy resilience and moderate economic savings for the community.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Droplet Shear in Oil/Water Emulsion Produced by Centrifugal Pump and Gear Pump

hussain h. al-kayiem

Before being fed into the separators, a pump is often used to maintain adequate flowing pressure of oil/ water emulsion in a production conduit, especially in a depleted or matured reservoir. Droplet shearing and size reduction due to the pump highly affect the separation performance. This paper aims to present an experimental investigation on the shearing of oil droplets in an oil/water production fluid passing through a high rpm single-stage centrifugal pump (C-pump) and a lower rpm gear pump. A cross polarizer microscope has achieved sample analyses. The experiments have been carried out at various water/oil ratios, from 70/30 to 90/10, with two different temperatures of 50 oC and 80 oC. Further, the viscosities of the fluid sample from both pump outlets are correlated with the water cuts. The results are presented in a graphical format showing the droplet size distributions of different cases from the two tested pump types. There is a general trend of higher shear intensity and smaller mean oil droplets with the C-pump than the gear pump. Water cut and the temperature seem to have a small effect on the shear- ing of the droplets. Further, the viscosity correlation for the fluid collected from two pump outlets at different temperatures and water cuts shows a slight decrease in viscosity with the shear rate. However, it is highly affected by the water cut and temperature.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Relationship Between Pollution Levels and Poverty: Regions of Antofagasta, Valparaiso and Biobio, Chile

patricio herrera

The regions of Antofagasta, Valparaíso and Biobío present a series of environmental problems. Inhabit ants perceive that air pollution, water pollution and rubbish contamination contribute to the deterioration of the quality of life in their territories. Based on air pollution information obtained from monitoring stations of the National Air Quality Information System (SINCA), meteorological information obtained from the Meteorological Directorate of Chile, and socioeconomic information on income poverty level, multidimensional poverty level, and energy poverty level, a data panel was constructed with informa tion from 2017 to 2021 with daily information at the commune level. Three ordinary least squares regression models were estimated to determine the relationship between the socioeconomic variables (income poverty, multidimensional poverty and fuel poverty) and each of the pollutants studied. The results show that, in general, there is a positive and significant relationship between the level of income poverty, multidimensional poverty and fuel poverty. The main objective of this study was to investi gate the possible relationship between pollution and the variables of income poverty, multidimensional poverty and fuel poverty, in order to build evidence that will allow the creation of environmental public policies in the future.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Is the United Kingdom’s Hydrogen Strategy an effective Low Carbon Strategy?

francine baker

The United Kingdom’s (UK) clean energy shift to ensure low-carbon and affordable energy supply is regulated by the Energy Act 2013 and the electricity market reform programme. To further this energy shift and to reduce the UK’s dependence on natural gas as an energy source, the (UK) launched its Hydrogen Strategy on 17 August 2021. The rationale for the Strategy is that hydrogen gas is a clean and efficient source of fuel, there is an abundance of hydrogen and that changing from natural gas to hydrogen gas will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The question raised is whether the Government’s objective of the use of Hydrogen to replace natural gas is an effective strategy to reduce greenhouse emissions caused by heating. The scope of this paper does not include an examination of the role of the oil industry as an energy source. This paper will firstly explain how the UK came to be dependent on the use of natural gas by briefly outlining the history of its development as a form of energy in the UK. It will then focus on considering the advantages and disadvantages of the use of natural gas and of alternatives in the UK for heating. It will assess the efficacy of hydrogen as an alternative to the use of natural gas in the UK for providing energy for heating in terms of reducing its carbon footprint and therefore protecting the environment and the economy.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 2, Pages undefined: The Potential of Hydrogen Technologies for Low-Carbon Mobility in the Urban-Industrial Symbiosis Approach

maria angela butturi

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions responsible for climate change. On the other hand, the need for reduc ing GHG emissions is even more urgent in densely industrialized areas, traditionally located nearby highly populated zones. In these areas, road transportation is a relevant source of environmental pres sures affecting air quality and the nearby communities’ health: in Europe, private vehicles, vans, trucks, and buses produce more than 70% of the overall greenhouse gas emissions from transport, as well as particulate matter and nitrogen oxide. The European Hydrogen Strategy considers using green hydro gen as an energy carrier to de-carbonize industry and the transport sector, highlighting the need for the infrastructure to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen. The spatial configuration of the industrial sites and the existing infrastructure can facilitate the creation of hydrogen hubs serving both the logistics needs of companies and the public and private mobility in an urban-industrial symbiosis approach. Thus, this study aims at investigating the opportunities offered by the creation of synergies between industrial clusters and the nearby urban areas to improve the local sustainability by supporting the deploying of low-carbon mobility using green hydrogen. The available literature is reviewed in order to schematise and discuss the sustainability-related basis of adopting such a strategy, presenting an updated analysis of the latest research and application results suitable for future research applications and for supporting decision-making processes.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 2, Pages undefined: The Potential of Solar Energy to Meet Renewable Energy Needs in Idaho, USA

robert l. mahler

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate public attitudes about the potential of solar energy generation in Idaho. Currently, hydropower is the largest source of electricity in Idaho. However, this resource is already being used at close to 100% capacity. Idaho is one of the three fastest growing states in the United States – a situation that will require additional energy resources to meet growing electricity needs. The three renewable energy resources that have the potential to meet this additional electricity demand are solar, wind, and geothermal energy. On an annual basis, the Boise area, the fastest growing area of the state, with its desert climate, averages 2,993 total hours of sunshine, making it the 47th sun niest city in the United States. There are 120 completely sunny days and more than 210 days with some sun. This fastest growing area of the state has plenty of sunshine. Consequently, individual homeowners have the incentive to install efficient solar systems thanks to both abundant sunshine and government incentives. The potential and future of solar energy are evaluated in this paper by (1) public surveys about the acceptance of solar energy in urban cities in southwestern Idaho, (2) the trends in individual solar installations by homeowners, and (3) the costs of individual solar installations compared to the cost of purchasing electricity from the local power grid. Solar energy has become cost-effective com pared to the cost of other renewable energy resources in the region thanks to improvements in solar cell technology in the last 10 years. It is estimated that home rooftops in Idaho have the potential to be covered with 4,800 MW of solar panels. This could generate 28% of all the electricity demand in Idaho. As of 2021, 573 MW worth of panels had been installed. More than 81% of homeowners in the Boise area have been approached by companies selling solar systems in the last 4 years. Approximately 35% of the homeowners who have received solar information view this renewable energy resource as viable, while more than 30% of the homeowners have either seriously considered solar energy systems or installed these systems since 2016. Solar systems are now found on the rooftops of approximately 4,000 homes in Ada and Canyon counties in southwestern Idaho. As long as federal tax incentives are offered for the installation of individual solar systems, this renewable energy source will expand at a fast pace in southwestern Idaho in the foreseeable future.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Smart Energy Applications and Integration of Urban Furniture into Smart Systems in Cities

suzan neşe muradoğlu

Smart cities aim to adapt the living conditions in the best way by using human and technology factors, which are among their basic components. At this point, the components of smart cities show some changes according to the economic, social and cultural values of the countries, and the investments made in these components reveal new city versions. Improving sustainable design thinking and social innovation requires collaborative studies via policy-making process and related applications. Local governments, designers and stakeholders need to focus on how to create a new way of thinking for smart and sustainable solutions for cities. This study presents an environmentally sensitive design proposal that uses smart energy technologies for integrating renewable energy alternatives into smart lighting system for promoting circular economy and increasing sustainability in public areas. Using renewable energy technologies not only adds value to the identity of these cities but also increases public aware ness among users. For this purpose, a smart lighting design that generates electrical energy with kinetic f looring is designed and presented for usage in Çorlu Cumhuriyet Park. Çorlu has a strategic location and investment targets. It also has a high potential to become a smart city that can stand out on smart energy in Turkey, which is supported by the Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy Agreement signed in 2019. The designed smart lighting aims to integrate renewable energy into city furniture and increase environmental awareness by presenting citizens’ instant contribution to the renewable energy production in their daily activity.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Agent-based Modelling of Electricity Access in Informal Settlements in South Africa

daniel kerr

In the latter half of the 20th century and the first decades of the 21st century, urbanisation in developing countries has increased dramatically. Across the developing world, urban populations have been rising rapidly, and the capacity of national and municipal governments to service these growing populations has not been able to keep pace with rising demand. This has led to a rise in informal access to services and the development of informal settlements. Defining informal habitation is complex, but some com- mon features are a lack of access to the formal services of the city, be that water, sanitation, electricity, or housing services. Across the developing world, growth in informal settlements has accompanied urban population growth: 1.03 billion people in 2018 lived in informal settlements, according to the United Nations, 233 million of whom live in Sub-Saharan Africa. For the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG11), to be achieved by 2030, access to urban services needs to be acceler- ated. South African electricity services in urban informal settlements have seen significant development over the past decade, with programs such as the Upgrading Informal Settlements Program (UISP) ‘giv- ing priority to the provision of basic services and functional tenure’. However, access to services is still a challenge in many informal settlement communities, and illegal access to basic services, particularly electricity, remains high. This research uses a novel agent-based modelling methodology to determine which factors affect most strongly the incidences of illegal access to electricity, as well as the main drivers and barriers to greater formal access to electricity in informal settlements in South Africa. Access to capital, political economy barriers, and technical challenges contribute to high incidences of illegal access, and addressing these barriers will lead to higher formal access rates and more reliable electricity services for residents.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Load Shifting Potential of Electric Vehicles Using Management Systems for Increasing Renewable Energy Share in Smart Grids

maria schaffer

A decarbonisation of the energy system is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus achieve the climate protection goals. For this reason, the renewable energy share in the power grids of many countries is increasing. In order to stabilize the energy system and increase its flexibility, energy management systems are needed. This paper offers a model of energy management system which starts from the network operator and ends at the consumer (an electric vehicle). Firstly, a controllable local system signal, which is sent through a smart meter gateway from the grid operator to the consumer, has been developed. The signal is based on the renewable energy share in the local grid, on the electricity exchange price and on a defined profile. Then, different charging modes, which regulate the energy consumption based on the signal, have been developed and field tested. Finally, the charging modes have been simulated in order to better compare the data. The results show that with smart charging, 90% of the energy demand can be rescheduled. In view of the load shifting, greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs can be reduced.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Prototyping a Digital Twin – A Case Study of a ‘U-Shaped’ Military Building

piergiorgio marchione

The aim of the article is to cover part of the issues related to develop a process aimed at defining some essential step to correctly plan a ‘smart district’ that could dispatch energy produced in excess to the district’s other buildings. The first step has been to search for a type of building with very similar characteristics, such as geometry, zones, with the obvious variant of the geographic localization and thermal behaviour, on the other hand, a certain computational approach has to be set, in order to achieve a further replicable and scalable approach to a small-scale urban building energy modelling (UBEM). focusing on various characteristics, a standard ‘u-shaped’ building, belonging to a ‘military district’ in a southern city of Italy (Bari), has been chosen as a case study. In order to obtain energy information, the authors have started investigating first the basic components of the building through measures, thermal imaging, heat flux sensor, borescope, secondly a BIM model has been set and then enhanced to a Building Energy Model (BEM) trying to replicate the energy behaviour of the case study as close as possible. although many technological innovations are emerging, the ‘BIM to BEM process’ and the ‘BEM analysis process’ itself still depends on too many variables and results on several experiments conducted showed a variation of up 26%, that probably could be improved only by a rigorous/hybrid workflow through a digital twin.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages undefined: A Quick Energy Performance Simulation of Typical Bhutanese Residential Building Using Building Information Modelling

choten tshering

Bhutan is a tiny nation located in the Himalayan Mountain between India and China, with scarce natural resources and energy. So, this study aims to examine the energy performance of typical Bhutanese residential buildings by applying building information modelling. The typical Bhutanese residential building uses traditionally plastered brick walls and concrete block walls without insulation, resulting in greater heat loss from the structure. The heat loss from the building has a direct impact on the energy consumption of the building. Throughout most districts, the weather is cold from September to February, and mild with humid temperatures in the summer. The models have been constructed and analyzed using software called ‘Open Building Designer’ and ‘Energy Simulator’ under 3 scenarios: concrete block wall/concrete slab, brick wall/concrete slab, and stone masonry wall/timber flooring. The study was carried out on these three scenarios to ascertain the energy consumption, heat loss, and heat gain on the designed period. According to the simulation results, the Bhutanese residential building had a high heat loss from building but less heat intake from outside. Timber flooring and stone masonry wall are preferred in colder region as it can retain more heat if no insulation walls are used. The result also revealed that most of the heat from the structure was dissipated through the walls. Following that, a few types of insulated walls were used for simulation reasons, mostly to improve the building’s thermal per- formance. Heat loss from the structure was minimized up to 46–65% by adopting the insulated walls.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages undefined: A Comparative Study of Conceptual Design and Prototype for DC-TRAD Using EV Powertrain for RTW DC in KT City

s.k. arun

This paper is an overview of electric vehicle (EV) conceptual model development in SIMULINK; this involves components of an EV which include driver input, motor and controller, battery and the calculation of parameters with a dashboard viewing interface in which all parameters can be monitored from the dashboard. The paper focuses on comparisons of specifications and costing of an EV and a fuel-powered vehicle on route-to-work driving cycle for Kuala Terengganu city (RTW DC for KT city). A few parameters of EV were chosen to be interpreted: time, distance travelled, average speed, average running speed, average acceleration, average deceleration, acceleration percentage, deceleration percentage, idling percentage, cruising percentage, kWh and fuel costing, battery voltage, current, state-of-charge (SOC) and power. Through this, detailed overview of EV efficiency can be concluded and proven. This paper applies four methods: parameter calculation, EV modelling, data collection on RTW DC for KT city using driving cycle tracking device and validation of EV with RTW DC for KT city. The validation of the model is successful, and the travelling with the EV is proven to be more cost- efficient compared to that with fuel-powered vehicles.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Public views of the value, potential, and sustainability of energy sources over the last 30 years in the Pacific Northwest, USA

robert l. mahler

The use of renewable energy has been an important topic in the four Pacific northwestern states for the last 30 years. large, statistically designed public surveys were conducted in the region in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 to determine the perceived sustainability, future viability, and acceptance of the following ten energy sources: biomass, coal, geothermal, hydropower, natural gas, nuclear, oil, solar, tidal, and wind power. The survey questions were identical in all 4 years of the survey. these surveys were delivered by the US Postal service to over 3500 randomly chosen residents in each survey year. The public response rate exceeded 50% in each survey year. Demographic data about age, gender, education level, community size, and state of residence of survey respondents were also collected. The survey data were statistically analyzed. in general, the public was literate identifying the renewable and nonrenewable energy sources as the majority of survey respondents correctly identified biomass, geo- thermal, hydropower, solar, and wind as renewable energy sources. based on survey results, over 75% of Pacific northwest residents considered it important or very important that their energy resources were renewable in 2020. the findings of this study were important because it shows that the public is in line with the scientific community with the goal of greatly reducing energy reliance on C containing nonrenewable energy sources including oil, coal, and natural gas. In summary, (1) the public strongly supports the transformation to a sustainable energy system using primarily renewable energy sources, (2) the use of traditional nonrenewable energy sources like natural gas should not be discouraged in the present; however, they should be phased out over the short and medium terms, (3) solar and wind energy should be significant sources to meet future energy needs in the region, and (4) the renewables including biomass and geothermal have a place in the future energy mix within the Pacific northwest.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Design and development of a tool for selecting operations to obtain biomethane from biogas from different sources

lucía garcía gómez

Biomethane is a real alternative to natural gas and a clean way to valorize biogas obtained from organic waste in landfills or manure. It can be used as fuel in vehicles and boilers or injected in natural gas grid. Nevertheless, in Spain, biogas and biomethane are starting to be considered as an alternative to natural gas. A good way of promoting these renewable energies is supporting small and cheap treatment plants near to the place where the biogas is produced and where the biomethane can be used on-site, fostering the circular economy. an easily usable simulation tool for selecting the best sequence of unit operations for treating biogas has been designed. modelized operations are absorption (with water, chemical and physical), pressure swing adsorption, membranes and dehydration. A step to determine if the biomethane obtained is suitable to be injected into the grid according to current Spanish regulation has been developed. To complete the design, a conventional simulation software can be used. The tool gives information about costs, consumptions and environmental impact of each selection. Pollutants modelled are those more common in biogas coming from manure although other contaminants hardly removable are considered: CO₂, CH₄, NH₃, SH₂, CO₂, O₂, N₂, H₂O and siloxanes. unit operations have been modelled separately, and operating conditions can be easily modified by user. Some alarms have been settled to help user to make a correct selection. With this solution, a compromise between cost (compared to commercial solutions) and accuracy is met. This tool was used as a first step to design a flexible and portable prototype for treating small flows of biogas as those produced in livestock which has been later built and is on operation. This kind of solutions could help the deployment of biomethane in Spain and help installations to reduce its emissions by valorizing a residue.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Optimal design and techno-economic analysis of a hybrid solar-wind power resource: a case study at Al Baha University, KSA

ahmad f. tazay

This study presents a feasibility analysis of supplying the measured load of Al Baha University in Saudi Arabia by renewable resources including solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbine (WT), and storage banks instead of the current conventional grid. The objective of this paper is to find the optimum system that has the lowest net present cost (NPC) and greenhouse emission CO₂. The metrological data and load profile are collected at the desired location. The simulation results show that NPC of a proposed combination of grid/PV/WT system, at the current grid’s tariff of 0.085$/kWh, is more efficient than other configurations with power load shortage (<0.1%), with more than 30% reduction in CO₂ emission, and lower cost of energy (COE). The results also show that the integration of PV and WT sources with the main grid is the best configuration that leads to the minimum cOE of 0.0772 /kWh,0.075/kWh, and 0.048 $/kWh at the educational building, administration building, and total campuses’ load, respectively. The developed methods conclude that the objective function and simulation results are feasible for the selected loads at al baha university. The current analyses can be adopted to install the real renewable energy system at the desired university.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Thermal performance investigation of a mini natural circulation loop for solar PV panel or electronic cooling simulated by lattice Boltzmann method

johan augusto bocanegra

The natural circulation loop (NCL) consists of a thermal-hydraulic system that convoys thermal energy from a heat source to a heat sink without a pump. Applications of those loops can be found in solar energy, geothermal, nuclear reactors, and electronic cooling. The lattice Boltzmann method is a numerical method that can simulate thermal-fluid dynamics, using a mesoscopic approach based on the Boltzmann equation for the density function. A square NCL model with fixed temperatures at the heater and heat sink sections was developed in a bi-dimensional lattice with double distribution dynamics, one distribution for the hydrodynamic field and the other for the thermal field. The different cooler–heater configurations (vertical or horizontal) were investigated. We found that by positioning the source or sink vertically, the flow direction can be controlled. In contrast, in a loop with symmetric horizontal heater - horizontal cooler configuration where both fluid directions are equally probable. The effectiveness of the loop was studied by calculating the heat sink temperature gradient. The lower value was obtained for the horizontal heater horizontal cooler orientation (0.71) and the higher value for the vertical heater vertical cooler configuration with an increment of 34%; simultaneously, the flow rate (Reynolds number) was reduced by 47%.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 4, Pages undefined: The Consultative Drafting Process for Chinese Emissions Trading Regulation: Effective Inputs But Uncertain Output

steven geroe

The interviews informing this paper provide a series of interlocking case studies of the ways in which specialist expertise in renewable energy institutions is integrated through the consultative drafting processes for Chinese emission trading schemes (ETS). This has been implemented through drafting groups, research collaboration, various types of meetings and conferences, industry feedback and online solicitation of opinions. Interviews in state-related research institutions, universities, regional ETS carbon exchanges and private sector consultancies indicated that this process can be a useful means of integrating regulatory measures that have proven effective. Not all interviewee recommendations are reflected in the February 2021 Trial Measures for the Chinese national ETS and related implement- ing rules. Examples of adoption of interviewees’ recommendations included detailed requirements for emissions monitoring plans, models for trading systems and registries, and specific methodologies such as default emissions values. The most important examples of non-adoption were stringent penalties for emissions and monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) offences and supervisory powers of regulators relating to third-party inspection organisations. The March 2021 opinion solicitation draft (OSD) for a higher level, more permanent State Council regulation contains stronger penalties and supervisory powers. The 2019 and 2020 OSDs for the current national ETS rules also contained stronger penalties and supervisory powers than the current rules. Hence, all of the OSDs more closely resemble interviewee recommendations than the current rules. Interview evidence, and related scholarly writing, suggests that this pattern may relate to resistance of powerful economic interests. Nonetheless, it suggests that such resistance can be countered through capacity building and the example of early adopters in effective emissions trading. While the consultative drafting process has proved a useful means for identifying effective regulatory design on the basis of pilot ETS experience, it has yet to be put to best effect in the current national ETS rules.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 4, Pages undefined: NEM Schemes Analysis Based on Installed Grid-Connected PV System for Residential Sector in Malaysia

w. m. w. muda

An investigation has been conducted to analyse the performance of a grid-connected photovoltaic system (GCPV) based on the net energy metering (NEM) scheme. Several analyses of a similar system have been performed in the literature based on assumptions and simulations. However, the concept based on actual NEM data in Malaysia has not been fully considered. Hence, this study analyses the real performance of the GCPV system from the field monitoring of PV energy production, as well as import and export energy, collected at a residential house participating in NEM 2.0. From the collected data, the economic parameters were calculated and compared with an equivalent system before the NEM implementation, which is a grid-only system, and the NEM 1.0 and 3.0 schemes. The results show that for the considered load demand with an average monthly electricity bill of RM 500, the NEM 2.0 provides more benefits to consumers with the lowest payback period, net present cost, net saving and energy cost. Although NEM 3.0 produced the lowest net saving, which was RM 33,280 for 20 years of the project’s lifetime, it was still capable of reducing the electricity bill by 66% for the first year and 32% during self-consumption.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Energy Efficiency in Industry 4.0: Assessing the Potential of Industry 4.0 to Achieve 2030 Decarbonisation Targets

simone maggiore

The energy transition for the industrial sector is not limited to a reduction in energy consumption: the real issue is to combine sustainability with growth, by mixing the two ingredients (the rational energy use and the industrial growth) which are not always compatible. The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and the New Green Deal policies in Italy have the goal to promote an economic development as well as the environment sustainability and social inclusion. RSE1 has investigated the role of the national incentive plan ‘Impresa 4.0’ in Italy (currently ‘Transizione 4.0’, equivalent to ‘Industry 4.0’) as a measure to promote the energy transition, analysing whether and how is it possible to combine economic development with energy efficiency. Originally, it was developed to increase the competitiveness of industrial sector, but, progressively, it was also used to promote energy efficiency and sustainability. A survey was carried out by RSE on about 300 companies that implemented innovation and digitalisation interventions, monitoring the effects and impacts that the ‘4.0 choice’ has determined on energy consumption, on their environmental externalities and, in general, on other costs. Moreover, some case studies were collected, together with a database of ‘Impresa 4.0’ application, which supported technical and economic evaluations. The impact of these measures on energy performance of the companies was estimated from the analysis of actual projects and from interviews and discussions with the operators. In this paper, the results of the survey are presented and the outcomes are analysed in comparison with the Italian manufacturing sector performance, in order to establish the potential of ‘Impresa 4.0’ policies in supporting the decarbonisation process and reaching 2030 environmental targets.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Analysis of Capacity for Implementation of TIF Projects for Electric Transport Development in Russian Cities

evgenii leontev

Cities in Russia are faced with a burning problem of procuring funds for public transit and transport infrastructure projects. The article aims to evaluate the possibility of using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) in various cities of Russia by calculating property tax revenue increments from a TIF project and designating the increments as a protected source of funds for recouping investments in the project. The authors proceed from a hypothesis that it is possible to justify the priority of the city’s fiscal capacity for TIF adoption over its land area and the size of its population. The study analyzes a major TIF project that was implemented in the field of public transportation. The outcomes of the project were extrapolated to transport projects in other cities in Russia. Calculations show that the majority of the cities included in the study fit the criteria for TIF projects. The study proves that calculating the projected costs of TIF-funded projects for the development of electric public transport enables the grouping of the cities by potential for TIF project implementation. At the same time, other characteristics of cities, such as the size of population, are not the determinants of such potential. The valuation of TIF potential could serve as a basis for a rapid feasibility study of a TIF project in a city, removing the need for laborious calculations.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 4, Pages undefined: How to Foster Fruitful Collaborations – The Impact of Sustainability Science

lara brungs

One of the most urgent topics of the present, yet only slowly and arduously proceeding, is the energy transition, especially in the heat and building sector. Here, the basic hypothesis is that collaborations between all stakeholders involved are crucial to accelerate the process. The opening of every individual towards the perspective of others and an overarching joint intention is needed. Working from a sustainability science perspective, it is argued that approaching the transition from inside the system will lead to a common ground for collective action. The authors’ role as communication researchers and transformative scientists is embedded in the broader accompanying research for the energy transition in the building sector (‘Energiewendebauen’). With this paper and authors’ work within the broader research network, an attempt is made to open the minds for innovative ways of working and facilitating the shift between science and practice by fostering thriving collaborations applying communication and collaboration knowledge. For this purpose, a multitude of different methods are drawn upon, some of which will be presented in this paper with a special focus on Generative Scribing, which is an artistic approach established in the context of Theory U. Although the method might initially be perceived as being rather unusual by some people and the practicing of this new way of working and communicating might even be rejected by a few, first findings show that when this method is used, people are intuitively attracted and open up in the process.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Zero-Energy Buildings in Cities with Different Climates and Urban Densities: Energy Demand, Renewable Energy Harvest On-Site and Off-Site and Total Land Use for Different Renewable Technologies

udo dietrich

Zero-energy buildings (ZEBs) have no fossil energy consumption; this is achieved by optimizing the building and balancing the remaining energy needs by renewables. If this energy can be harvested on- site, on the building’s envelope and its estate, a net-ZEB is reached. If supplementary renewable energy has to be produced off-site on compensating land, the ZEB can be reached with such compensating measures (ZEB_CM). Climate and urban density determine how far a ZEB is possible. Temperatures out of comfort range, lack of daylight and overheating by solar radiation may cause energy demand while high insolation or wind speed delivers good preconditions to produce renewable energy on less land. A high urban density avoids urban sprawl and saves land outside of the cities that can be used for other purposes (agriculture and energy production, among others). But, at a certain density, net-ZEB cannot be realized furthermore, and compensating land is necessary. The paper investigates these effects for 15 selected cities around the globe, covering all main climatic conditions. Based on design rules out of literature and own experiences, a prototypical optimized building is derived for each location, and its energy demand is simulated. Standard assumptions for the efficiency of renewable energy systems are used to determine the need of land to cover it. For different urban densities, it can be concluded how far net-ZEB is possible; if necessary, the need for compensating land is calculated. The results show that for cities with moderate climates, the total land use (city plus compensating land) can decrease with increasing urban density if the technology used off-site has high efficiency (like PV). On the other hand, the total land use may increase remarkably with increasing urban density if the used technology off-site has a low efficiency (like the wind for electricity and especially wood pellets for heating). The final understanding is that cities should meet the energy needs on-site by optimized buildings and structures plus renewable energy production (PV on the building’s roofs, geothermal systems, etc.).

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 4, Pages undefined: A Comprehensive Review on Digital Twins for Smart Energy Management System

mario lamagna

Energy systems digitalisation represents the energy sector’s future, and Digital Twins represent the most advanced and complete way to monitor and optimally manage a complex system such as the upcoming solutions. Those latter will comprehend several energy generators, traditional and/or from renewable energy sources (RESs), different energy storage systems using several energy vectors and that interconnect different energy-consuming sectors (power, thermal, transport sectors) and that fully exploit the potential synergies offered by such interconnected system. Nevertheless, since the first conceptualisation of digital twins in the first years of the 21st century, its use has not started yet for different reasons that are affecting the adoption of this game-changer approach. Hence, what are the main barriers that are holding back the adoption of digital twins in smart energy systems? The present review paper answers this research question while discussing the case studies that can be found in literature and analysing the different approaches and the system architectures that have been tested or simply idealised. This paper provides a basis for future research that aims at applying the digital twin concept in the energy sector and particularly for power grid management. It deals with the challenges of big data management, the ones related to real-time measurements and continuous communication between the real-world system and its digital twin, the investment for measuring systems, the issues connected with the use of large data centres and the correlated energy-related challenges and doubts. The review analyses the challenges that have been encountered so far, the proposed solutions and the opportunities that such a ‘work in progress’ topic offers.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Analysis of Novel Refrigeration Systems Performance with and Without Nanoparticles

hicham machmouchi

Due to their high rate of heat transfer and better thermo-physical properties, the application of nanoparticles in cooling systems results in better enhancement, improved reliability and efficiency of refrigeration and air conditioning systems, and hence, they are widely used in domestic and industrial sectors. It has been found that the major contribution to global warming potential (GWP) and depletion of ozone layer (ODP) is due to the over usage of conventional refrigerants; thus, the utilization of nanoparticles in refrigeration and air conditioning systems is highly recommended. The application of nanorefrigerants not only increases the thermal conductivity and heat transfer characteristics but also improves the coefficient of performance (COP) effectively, leading to energy savings. This article comprises the theoretical analysis of R134a-Al₂O₃, R134a-ZnO, R134a-TiO₂ and R134a-CuO mixtures as replacements of pure R134a refrigerant in vapour compression refrigerants (VCRs). For comparison, the COP and refrigeration effect (RE) of the system with and without the addition of nanoparticles are determined from reported observations. It is concluded that the COP of a refrigeration system with added nanoadditives in refrigerant fluid is higher than that of systems running with pure refrigerant fluid. Around 38% increase in COP has been recorded in this study. Moreover, CuO nanoparticles showed high value of COP when blended with R134a compared to other nanoparticles. The COP of the refrigeration systems varies with the type of refrigerants used in the system.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Strategic Intelligence of an Organization Amid Uncertainty

lazar d. gitelman

The paper deals with the formation and development of strategic intelligence, a fundamentally new management mechanism in organizations that provides information and analytical support for making anticipatory decisions and the company’s preparedness for unpredictable challenges of the future. The paper systematizes academic approaches in terms of distinctive features and classification criteria of strategic intelligence, formulates its key objectives in the course of digital transformation, and gives the criteria for assessing its level in companies. It is shown that the establishment of strategic intelligence requires the introduction of specialized management systems, such as anticipatory management, and the formation of relevant competencies based on anticipatory learning. An anticipatory management model is proposed that takes into account weak signals for timely and adequate response to emerging threats. The power engineering industry has been used as an example for demonstrating the given model’s capabilities to create standard algorithms for making anticipatory decisions in difficult situations. The paper also defines the role of strategic intelligence in the process of digital transformation and the transformation of organizations into self-learning ones.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 3, Pages undefined: The Façade Wall: A Focus on the Green Architecture of Laurie Baker’S Houses

anjali sadanand

This paper is an attempt to illustrate ‘green’ strategies Laurie Baker uses, in particular with respect to passive design principles as applied to houses. Green architecture is holistic and socially sensitive as it, in addition to being environmentally conscious, addresses the well-being of its users. This paper will focus on the method of harvesting ‘green’ ideals with respect to the architecture of the façade wall in Laurie Baker’s houses. Three houses designed by Baker in the 1990s in Trivandrum, Kerala will be studied. The discussion will show that Baker’s façade design strategies represent innovative solutions for facade designs built on low technology with derivations from the local vernacular in a contemporary architectural language. In the larger context of architecture of sustainability and green architecture, Baker’s approach, it will be shown, is essentially humanist and presents a way forward to establishing identity through place and an understanding of culture. In a digital era, which challenges identity and encourages notions of connectivity in a global sense, Baker’s architecture, it will be proposed, promotes green principles in making significant the value of the local and in the credence it gives to the end user and the craftsman in a singularly unique architectural language.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Methodological Approach to the Research of Energy Cogeneration Systems Operational Reliability Indicators

a. domnikov

The reliable operation of energy cogeneration systems as the most important component of large energy systems is essential for the successful development of a national economy. Not only technical, but also economic reliability aspects predetermine the complexity of studying the above-mentioned subjects and their interaction with other components of the economy and social sphere. As a result of calculations, an assessment of the level of reliability of the energy cogeneration systems of the Ural region was obtained. The obtained estimates made it possible to form a set of measures that will affect the increase in reliability of energy cogeneration systems and in the future will ensure the optimal allocation of resources to increase the competitiveness of energy generating companies. Also, the influence of energy cogeneration systems properties as technical and economic objects on the formation of the power generation reliability level of a large region has been assessed. Based on the results of the calculations, the reliability levels of the Urals energy cogeneration systems are determined and an analysis of their operational reliability is presented.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Electricity Consumption Analysis and Management for Different Residential Buildings in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

afaf d. almoallem

The electricity consumption of different domestic dwellings during the year in Saudi Arabia has been studied and analyzed. Jeddah is considered to be the second largest city in Saudi Arabia, where the weather is harsh most of the year. The average temperature for the warmest months is 36.34 °C, while it is 29.25 °C in the remaining months. This is relatively high compared to the other cities in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this research was to conduct a survey to evaluate Jeddah residents’ electricity consumption for domestic dwellings in terms of type, size, and age of the dwellings. The survey also includes the number of residents in each dwelling, their type, and the total number of air-conditioning (AC) systems. Other appliances used in a dwelling are also included in the questionnaire as well as details of the thermal insulation in walls and the window glazing systems used. Analyzing the results shows that the ratio of electricity consumption due to the AC systems to the total consumption dur- ing the summer is 46.13%. However, this ratio falls to 17.15% in winter. This illustrates the huge impact of AC systems on total consumption. The results suggest that using window glazing systems will reduce consumption by 11%, while using thermal insulation will reduce the consumption by 14%. Consequently, the use of these two technologies is highly recommended in terms of reducing electricity consumption. Finally, a matrix plot and a probability plot are provided as illustrations in this work.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Calculation of Indirect Electricity Consumption in Product Manufacturing

adrienn koncz

Electricity consumption has been analysed since 2016 at a Hungarian furniture company. At the beginning of the research, a cyber-physical system was created which is capable of storing and analysing data on energy consumption by the production machines. The speciality of the system is that it can collect not only data on energy consumption by the machines but also the system can compare the energy consumption with production data. The data is received from sensors, which are installed into the building management system via the company’s own computer network. In this building management system, calculations can also be performed. All the collected and calculated data are entered into the company’s big database. The data is analysed with a business intelligence system, and the results are presented to the management and the other employees of the company. With this cyber-physical system all equipment are followed up in terms of energy management. The measured data can be analysed together by manufacturing machines and time; this way production efficiency can be represented by indicators. The goal of this study is not only to aggregate the energy consumption of machines that directly produce, but also to relate the energy consumption of indirectly aggregated production support equipment to production data. To achieve this goal, a completely new sensor environment had to be built to provide data from the supporting devices. One of the key supporting equipment is the extractors. These devices consume a huge part of total annual energy consumption of the factory (~30%). Their energy consumption costs are indirectly related to production, but through research and development, consumption can already be managed directly and aggregate to the creating of a product.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Geoenvironmental Analysis of Oil Extraction Activities in Urban and Rural Zones of Santa Elena Province, Ecuador

gricelda herrera-franco

From an environmental viewpoint, oil wells can be considered a potential source of pollution when improperly managed. The Santa Elena province (Ecuador), located on the Pacific coast, currently has a residual crude oil extraction compared to production generated in the Amazon region of the country. However, this activity in the coastal zone is very near to urban and rural populations. Therefore, a detailed influence analysis of these wells on the environment is necessary. This work aims to analyse, from a geoenvironmental perspective, the oil wells impact located in a pilot zone (urban and rural) of the oil field studied and, complementarily, to describe their incidence on the community and territory. The methodological process includes (i) oil wells compilation and inventory within the study zone and selection of a pilot zone; (ii) contaminating factors identification generated by the wells infrastructure (mechanical and territorial) and their current state of activity (production or abandoned); (iii) environmental impacts analysis generated through the development of a cause-effect matrix and, finally, the evaluation of a method and results found through a focus group technique. The results reflect a negative impact on the land cover and vegetative-animal environment in the vicinity of the wells, caused by the continuous release of gases, metallic oxidation and bituminous exhumation. The overall impacts interpretation compiled indicates that comprehensive action is needed at the wells to control and minimise them. The implementation of new environmental strategies through zoning can help to achieve adequate land-use planning, thus combining the safe and sustainable use of the resource with the development of other community activities (urbanisation, tourism, industry, agriculture and fishing) and environmental protection.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Obtaining Fresh Water from Natural and Synthetic Fuels in the Energy Sector

sergey e. shcheklein

In this work, a comparative study of the specific air consumption and water vapor emissions in combustion products was performed based on the analysis of stoichiometric equations for air oxidation reactions both of energy fuels (petrol, diesel fuel, gaseous fuel, wood) and synthetic fuels converted from biomass and coal fuels (ethanol, methanol, etc.), as well as hydrogen fuel. For the limit process temperature, the excess air ratio for various types of fuels and the real volumes of air and fuel consumption and water vapor emissions were determined. Theoretically, abnormally high consumption of atmospheric air when using hydrogen and gas fuel was shown. The feasibility of the beneficial use of the products of oxidation of organic fuels and hydrogen to produce fresh water was substantiated. The analysis procedure presented in the study was revealed to be universal and can be applied to investigate any existing and newly created fuel compositions.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 2, Pages undefined: A Management System for Electric Vehicles to Optimize the Allocation of Charging Processes on Motorways

dorothee ritter

In the coming years, the number of electric vehicles (EVs) is going to increase, while the charging network might not be adequately expanded at the required time. It is very likely that there will be feedback effects within the power grid in form of capacity bottlenecks. This might result in reduced charging power for a higher number of electric vehicles in order to counteract fluctuations. In this paper, the authors describe a management system for electric vehicles that optimizes the allocation of charging processes on motorways. The designed system aims to optimize travel and charging times while reducing waiting times for electric vehicles in intercity transport. by considering respective charging capacities, it may be able to reduce feedback effects with the energy system. The management system uses data from the charging stations, electric vehicles and their planned route. This allows the system to forward relevant information regarding expected energy demand to the power grid. consequently, vehicles periodically communicate their position, battery level and their remaining way to destination to the management system, which returns charging advice for the optimal charging station. by using an optimization algorithm, the scarce resource of the charging stations is efficiently allocated to the vehicles. In order to examine its efficiency, a model of the management system with reduced features is transferred into a simulation. The simulation study follows an academic approach and takes different penetration rates of electric vehicles into account. A heuristic approach led to a solution with reasonable complexity, i.e. polynomial running time. In comparison, an analytical solution was outlined which describes the optimal case. This simulation study shows that the proposed system manages the waiting times efficiently by smartly assigning the vehicles to the corresponding charging stations.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Inland Rail Freight Services with Less Fuel and Lower Emissions

frans bal

Many countries have enhanced their air quality agenda (NOx, PMx etc.) by a climate change agenda (CO2 etc.). A direct way to lower these emissions is by using less energy (fuel) per activity. One of these activities is freight transport. Transport from supplier to factory relies on efficient and cost-effective means of transport. Road transport (trucking) is usually preferred. But, trucking is still very dependent on fossil fuels. It is also not suitable for bulk transport over longer distances. In areas without suitable waterways, rail is a logical alternative, but is has its own perils. This paper discusses options to make bulk freight services between Germany and France compliant with emission reduction targets. This leads to the main research question: Is it possible to design rail freight routes that reduce fuel use, emissions of CO2, NOx and PM10, while offering competitive transport times? Main rail corridors show signs of congestion and lack of resilience. It is then interesting to research if (dormant) regional/rural, non-electrified, rail tracks could provide capacity and increase resilience of rail services. Such services could also benefit rural economies. A literature study and conversations with a regional expert were used to develop a case study with a rail service using alternative routes. A model was used to estimate the fuel consumption, emissions and trip times of such services. The study indicates that it takes con- certed action to achieve the intended goals.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Selection of Nature-Based Solutions to Improve Comfort in Schools During Heat Waves

guadalupe gómez

Climate change impacts particularly affect vulnerable populations such as children. Therefore, addressing the adaptation of educational buildings is crucial in avoiding these negative effects on school performance. In this paper, three educational buildings, located in Badajoz (Spain), Evora (Portugal) and Porto (Portugal), serve as pilot samples to study the suitability of nature-based solutions (NBS), chosen for each one of three climatic zones. The NBS selected include green roofs, vertical structures with vegetation to shade holes, outdoor trees and free-cooling ventilation. The scenarios of the different NBS implemented in the three models were simulated with the software EnergyPlus, which allows optimising the appropriate decision before renovation operations begin. The results obtained from the simulations suggest energy performance improvements after applying the most adequate NBS selection to each one of the three buildings tested. Particularly, a reduction in radiation on both roofs and facades is required in the case of Evora and Badajoz, where both climate zones have similar features, that is, warm and dry. While in Porto, milder and more humid than the former ones, it is very effective to operate mainly on the roof, complemented by small ventilation operations.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Hygrothermal Performance Assessments of Traditional Timber-Framed Houses in Turkey by Numerical Analysis

seda nur alkan

The aim of this research is to evaluate the hygrothermal performances of traditional timber-framed houses’ exterior walls in Turkey to create a base case scenario of hygrothermal behavior as a datum for conservation and restoration projects. There is a unique range of traditional timber-framed houses in Turkey varied according to geographical, social, economic, and cultural characteristics. They are hybrid constructions whereby an infilled timber-framed system is erected on the masonry walls. They are compositions of rectangular studs of wood and infill materials such as adobe, stone, and brick. Most constructed examples may be classified in groups of four depending on infill materials as follows: (1) timber-framed adobe infill, (2) timber-framed brick infill, (3) timber-framed stone infill, and (4) unfilled timber-framed. Within the scope of the research, one example from each type is selected for hygro- thermal performance assessments by applying the simulation program DELPHIN 6.1.1. This research is concentrated on the evaluation of hygrothermal performances of the selected types over 4 years (January 01, 2010–January 01, 2014) by investigating the temperature, relative humidity, U-value, and moisture mass model graphics of the cross-section of the wall samples. 2010 was one of the raini- est years and 2013 was one of the less rainy years in the selected locations for the last 10 years. The findings of this paper indicate that when factors such as construction details, materials, and climatic conditions are varied, there may be humidity-based problems in the selected examples. In that case, intersection points of materials, layers, and their relationships should be re-evaluated to improve the hygrothermal performances of the selected walls for conservation and restoration projects.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Economic Feasibility of Passive Strategies for Energy Efficient Envelopes of Mass-Built Housing in Hot-Dry Climate

k. d. reyes-barajas

The building and construction industry represents 36% of the world’s final energy use and 39% of carbon emissions, while the residential sector is responsible for 22% of total energy consumption and 17% of carbon emissions. Therefore, energy consumption reduction measures are required by this sector, without affecting the living conditions of its occupants. In Baja California, Mexico, the more commonly used construction systems in mass-built housing are concrete block walls and cast in place insulated reinforced concrete roof deck. These systems negatively affect comfort conditions, especially in hot summer periods, and therefore increase energy consumption, particularly in areas with an hot-dry climate, such as Mexicali, Baja California. The objective of this article is to determine the cost-benefit of two passive design strategies applied in the housing envelope, which are thermal insulation and ventilated facade. A commercial model of mass-built housing was taken as a benchmark case. Building energy simulations were carried out with the Design Builder® program, whereby the performance of the house was evaluated without passive design strategies (benchmark case) and with applied strate- gies, that is, variations in thickness and position of the materials that make up the layers of the walls and roof. Additionally, the net present value (NPV) criterion was used to obtain the costs and benefits of the design strategies. The results show the differences in cooling demand, indoor operative temperature, and the total costs, in Mexican pesos, of the application of the strategies; the results show that there are significant energy savings, which contribute to reducing carbon emissions to the environment and provide economic savings for the user.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Filter Feeding Allogenic Engineering Optimization Algorithm for Economic Dispatch

mbae ariel mutegi

The main objective of the economic dispatch problem in a power system is to minimize the total ther- mal fuel cost of the committed generators while satisfying the various system equality and inequality operational constraints. This research developed a new optimization algorithm, named the filter feeding allogenic engineering algorithm, for use in solving the economic dispatch problem. This meta-heuristic algorithm has been inspired by the filter feeding and motile behaviour of allogenic engineers. The newly developed algorithm was formulated using the Matlab software environment, and its performance was tested using the IEEE 39-Bus, 10-Generator system. A comparative analysis was also conducted with the Ant lion optimization heuristic algorithm, and the obtained results indicate that the filter feeding allogenic engineering algorithm yields superior performance.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Falling Capacity Utilization of Thermal Power Plants in India: Projection of Future Scenarios

alok k. tripathi

The utilisation factor of coal-based thermal power plants in India is consistently falling. The average national capacity utilisation factor, commonly known as plant load factor (PLF), has dwindled from 78.6% in 2007–08 to 56.01% in 2019–20. Several highly efficient and modern power plants are des- tined to run at very low PLFs. On top of this, 59,810 MW of new and advanced technology thermal power plants are in pipeline. These plants are also likely to experience dismally low capacity utilisation. All this is happening even when unmet power demand exists in the country and coal-based thermal power is still the mainstay of power generation. Falling PLF of the plants is therefore a matter of con- cern for all the stakeholders. It is important to know what future has in store for these plants. Partial least square (PLS) regression has been used for projection of PLF for the next five years and five likely scenarios have been created. Projections show that in the business as usual case (factors increasing at the current CAGR rate; Scenario I), the thermal power plants will face very low level of PLF (14.76%) by 2024–25. This leads to a grim situation. However, it was found that in one of the scenarios, that is, fuel mix and demand as per Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) suggestions with phasing out of old plants, Scenario V, the average PLF can be sustained above 68% until 2024–25. If this path is followed, thermal plants will get a fresh lease of life, at least in the medium term. It will also give time to poli- cymakers and utilities to prudently plan the optimum generation mix in the country including thermal and renewable energy.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Review of Empirical Evidence on Households’ Energy Choices, Consumption, Behavioral Tendencies and Patterns Across 32 Countries

fulufhelo licken mukhadi

Many households have restricted access to various energy types and, as a result, are faced with a daily challenge of having to make appropriate energy choices to meet their energy requirements. This paper aimed to review empirical studies on the households’ energy choices and consumption patterns to establish local, regional and global trends. Our findings revealed that fuelwood, electricity, kerosene, liquified petroleum gas (LPG), charcoal, dung cakes and crop residues are the most common fuel type options available to households. Fuelwood was the most common fuel type available to the majority of the households. Our paper indicates that a significant majority of the households tend to practice energy-stacking consumption patterns. Households mostly consume fuelwood, electricity, kerosene, LPG and charcoal for cooking, lighting, water and space heating. The use of fuelwood as a major fuel by the majority of households in relation to intermediate and cleaner fuels is associated with the demo- graphic characteristics of the households, economic status of the household, the biophysical condition of the area where the household is located and the energy supply characteristics. However, the relative importance of these factors in household energy choices varies across the globe, among regions and rural, urban and mixed settings. Our results seem to suggest that the majority of households that rely on fuelwood to meet their energy needs and requirements may relatively earn less income to afford cleaner fuels, are located closer to fuelwood resources, have larger family sizes, low level of education and pos- sibly do not have adequate access to cleaner fuels. Our study indicates that there are weak correlations between the identified 12 factors, except in a few cases where there are moderate positive and negative and mostly significant linear relationships between some factors. The findings of this study have major implications for household energy use policies, plans and strategies.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Development and Application of Methods of Internal Inspection of District Heating Networks

i.i. murtazin

The reliability of heat supply in cities is largely determined by the actual condition of pipelines, for example, corrosive and erosive wear. Comparative analysis of methodological approaches to assess- ing the technical condition of district heating networks shows that the most innovative and effective approach is internal pipe inspection using non-destructive magnetic testing. The article presents the results of research tests of the method in the context of its use for maintenance and retrofitting of the heating infrastructure in Yekaterinburg, a Russian city with a complex topology of utility networks and extremely uneven tear and wear on some sections of the networks. The authors describe the techni- cal and economic peculiarities of using internal pipe inspection methods at various stages of testing and formulate qualitative and quantitative criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the method being presented. Recommendations have been suggested for the optimum application of the method by heat network operators, especially those operating and servicing district heating systems.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Experimental Characterization of Biomass–Coal Fuel Mixtures

hussain h. al-kayiem

Agricultural waste products have huge energy content and have the potential to be harnessed to generate energy. This paper presents experimental investigation results on the biomass obtained from Malaysia’s agricultural sector mixed with coal for combustion to generate power. A total of seven different types of biomass samples have been considered, mainly oil palm trunk, oil palm fruit shell, oil palm fruit fiber, oil palm empty fruit bunch, oil palm leaf, oil palm frond, and chicken manure. They were mixed with semi-bituminous coal at several mixing percentages (2% biomass, 5% biomass, 10% biomass, 15% biomass). The mixtures then underwent analyses in the form of energy content or calorific value test, ultimate analysis, and proximate analysis. The results have been presented in terms of the energy content, carbon content, degradation temperature, and combustion-produced matters. Results show that the energy content of the coal-biomass mixture is generally lower than that of pure coal. Biomass can be co-fired with coal but at a low percentage, estimated to be not more than 10% biomass content. A biomass type that has potential and should be studied is the oil palm fruit shell. However, a balance is required for any electricity generation application between the energy content per unit weight and the other parameters such as properties of the released flue gas and ash properties.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Beech Leaves Briquettes’ and Standard Briquettes’ Combustion: Comparison of Flue Gas Composition

jiří ryšavý

Biomass stoves are not only popular, widespread and important sources of heat but are also not negligible sources of pollutants. The present study had two objectives in this field of research. The first one was to determine the difference between standard wooden and beech leaves briquettes flue gas composition during similar, standard home combustion conditions. The second objective was to determine the possibility of decreasing the mass concentration of pollutants contained in the flue gas produced by standard and alternative fuel combustion, i.e. wooden briquettes and beech leaves briquettes, by an oxidation catalyst. Significantly higher mass concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx), almost 2.5 times higher, in the flue gas was observed during the beech leaves combustion. Both fuels reached the edge of actual legislation limit (European Standard Commission regulation [EU] 2015/1185) in case of mass concentration of carbon monoxide (CO). This issue was solved by a palladium-based catalyst with average degree of conversion around 82%. The catalyst also influences flue gas composition from mass concentration of propane point of view with average degree of con- version around 15%. The mass fraction of sulphur, occurring in the beech leaves briquettes, did not cause any issue to the catalyst in terms of its degree of CO conversion. Due to the test results from the beech leaves briquettes, i.e. high mass fraction of ash and high mass concen- tration of NOx in the flue gas, it is appropriate to use this kind of fuel as secondary fuel during the co-combustion process.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Panel Integrated with Ground Heat Exchanger for Thermal Management

hussain h. al-kayiem

In spite of high solar radiation being an advantage for the performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, the caused high surface temperature of the panel surface reduces their efficiency, as well as lifetime span due to cyclic thermal stresses. PV panels are deteriorating due to two setbacks from a harsh climate: shallow temperatures during the night leading to condensation and overheating during the day leading to reduced efficiency. The present paper discusses and resolves the two setbacks in the PV performance by cooling the panel during the day and heating the panel during the night using water circulation in a ground embedded heat exchanger. Experimental and numerical methods were used to carry out the investigation on the influence of the proposed technique on the PV performance. Following the experiments, a computational model has been developed to simulate the experimental set-up. Two PV modules have been tested simultaneously in outdoor environment; one is bare and the second is integrated with ground heat exchanger. Results revealed that the integrated heat exchanger has managed to reduce the PV surface temperature by around 8oC during the daytime and rise the PV surface temperature by around 3oC more than the due temperature, at which condensation takes place during the night time. The developed technique has proved to be highly efficient as a PV thermal con- trol method.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2021, Volume 6, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Experimental Investigation on Wind Energy Harvesting by Aeroelastic Excitation of a Semi-Circular Cylinder with Flat Side Parallel to the Incoming Flow

marina g. lópez-arias

In this work, the performance of a semicircular cylinder with the flat side parallel to the incoming flow has been studied experimentally in a wind-excited energy harvester. Preliminary sectional model wind tunnel tests have allowed the identification of the reduced velocity ranges showing appreciable wind-induced oscillations. Interestingly, vortex-induced vibration-galloping interferences have been identified for both heave and pitch degrees of freedom at low reduced wind speeds, as well as coupled galloping in the higher ranges of flow velocities. The impact on the aeroelastic response caused by the attachment of a small-diameter rod at different positions has been studied, finding an enhancement in the amplitude of the oscillations and an enlargement in the vortex-induced vibration excitation range for some of them. Based on these preliminary results, an energy harvester has been designed adopting a cantilever beam supporting the semicircular cylinder. The device has showed a good performance reaching 2.5 mW of averaged harvested power for the configuration with a small-diameter rod attached at γ=85º for 8 m/s flow speed.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Electrification in Industrial Revolution 4.0

lazar d. gitelman — 11-29-2020

The article outlines new approaches to managing electrification that are driven by a radical transformation of scientific, technological, environmental, and economic conditions. These include spreading the use of electromechanical devices following the onset of a digital economy, the creation of highly efficient, small-scale power-generating units and lower cost of energy from renewable sources, wider economic collaboration between energy suppliers and consumers based on demand–response mechanisms, and stricter environmental regulations. The article defines the characteristics and trends of the new phase of electrification, assesses its contribution to economic growth and the environmental security of a region, and offers recommendations as to the optimization of the technological structure of the electric power industry in view of evolving requirements for greater reliability, environmental friendli- ness, and service support of power supply.

The authors bring out the principles of the provision of electricity to households in smart cities and identify the main areas of focus for increasing the economic efficiency of adopting innovative electrical technologies through a balance of national economic and business interests. A methodological toolkit has been designed for measuring the level of electrification in a region.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Urban–industrial symbiosis to support sustainable energy transition

maria angela butturi — 11-19-2020

Despite the growing interest in the field of urban–industrial symbiosis as well as in sustainable energy solutions at the city level, a research gap is recognized in terms of analyzing the advantages of energy symbiosis networks between industrial and urban areas integrating renewable energy systems.

The urban–industrial symbiosis can support both urban transition toward sustainability and industrial green innovation through creating advantageous relationships in the framework of a common low-carbon strategy between industrial districts and neighboring urban areas. Urban–industrial symbiosis extends the concept of industrial symbiosis, a part of the industrial ecology field, to urban–industrial synergies. Taking advantage of the geographic proximity, it promotes the exchanges of waste, resources, and energy between urban and industrial areas, as well as the sharing of infrastructure.

Thus, the paper aims at presenting an in-depth analysis of the main urban–industrial symbiosis schemes based on low-carbon energy flows between industries and cities, investigating the energy syn- ergies potential. It introduces the concept and outline of sustainability-driven framework with the aim of modeling urban–industrial energy symbiosis networks integrating renewable energy sources from a multi-stakeholder point of view and supporting decision-making on the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of the energy synergies.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Competitive development of energy cogeneration systems in conditions of economic imbalances

alexey domnikov — 11-29-2020

The paper presents the results of a study in the field of a comprehensive economic assessment of the competitive advantages of cogeneration power sources in the context of economic imbalances.

In the course of the study, the theoretical and methodological aspects of the competitive development of energy cogeneration systems were studied. Thus, it is proved that for the methodological support of the process of constructing strategic tasks in energy-generating companies operating in energy cogeneration systems, it is necessary to develop specialized industry methodological tools for assessing business processes in the field of cogeneration. In addition, the revealed multilevel specif- ics of positioning cogeneration energy sources in the territorial energy market under the conditions of economic imbalances required creation of a special methodology to take into account the peculiarities of the development of energy cogeneration systems with the help of which it is possible to study the nature of the impact of economic imbalances that disrupt the normal course of the investment process in energy cogeneration systems.

Testing of the developed methodology showed that the relationship between the centralized and distributed energy cogeneration systems can be different depending on the market conditions and the state of the competitive environment. Thus, in addition to traditional steam turbine plants, in a centralized energy cogeneration system, priority should be given to cogeneration gas plants, as the most competitive in terms of efficiency and maneuverability, and in a distributed – to cogeneration gas turbine plants, mainly built on the basis of local boiler houses.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Co-heating test as a tool for reduction of energy performance gap in buildings

hrvoje krstić — 11-29-2020

This paper presents part of the results of a large-scale, long-term experimental research conducted at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture Osijek. Among other research goals, this research aims at further development and improvement of a relatively new method used for the measurement of ther- mal transmittance of walls (U-value) in literature, often called temperature-based method (TBM). This research also partially overlaps with other researches carried out at the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, where the main research goals were development of machine learning and neural network models for predicting energy consumption in buildings, which will reduce the energy performance gap between design and actual energy needs. Building thermal performance as a whole can be quantified by the heat loss coefficient (HLC) or the total heat loss (THL). Experimental research presented in this paper was conducted by using a built test chamber in a laboratory, and the research lasted for 40 days. This is an innovative element of this research, since the test chamber is built inside a laboratory where external weather conditions are simulated by omitting the negative influence of wind, precipitation, and solar radiation on the experimental results. The actual heating energy consumption by the test chamber was recorded daily for 40 days during the winter season, together with internal and external temperatures, relative humidity (RH), U-values of walls, and wind speed. Chamber airtightness was measured at the beginning of the experiment. These measurements made it possible to perform the Co-heating test. This test is used to calculate the total heat loss of a building, both fabric and ventilation loss. Parallel with the Co-heating test, the design heating energy need of the test chamber was determined by calculating the heat loss coefficient and the total heat loss. Actual and design values of heat loss coefficient and total heat loss were used to characterize the energy performance gap. Energy performance gap in this study was found to be between −40% and 13%. Research results indicate the variables affecting the actual and design values of heat losses significantly. Presented results provide guidance for more accurate determination of actual energy consumption in buildings, and therefore help in the reduction of the energy performance gap.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 4, Pages undefined: An approach to achieve thermal comfort and save energy in heritage buildings using different operating patterns

rehab m. ahmad — 11-29-2020

The effective utilization of natural ventilation in heritage buildings could save a significant rate of electrical energy, as the airflow pattern affects interior comfort conditions; achieving users’ thermal comfort counts as an added value. This study aims to promote an approach in the form of a design strategy for a developed optimal annual operating schedule for heritage buildings, targeting the best operating pattern/s for each month. The study was carried out for a typical heritage building in the central district of Alexandria city (a typical Mediterranean Basin city), Egypt, for improving energy efficiency while achieving users’ thermal comfort. The paper adopted a simulation methodology for conducting energy and thermal comfort analyses using DesignBuilder simulation software. The approach was applied to a south-oriented room of the selected residential heritage building, which is the most affected orientation in the temperate-humid (slightly warmer) climate. The developed operating patterns included closed and opened windows, controlled natural ventilation, and HVAC system for cooling and heating with different temperature setpoints. The results showed that using the developed optimal annual operating schedule can save up to 47% of the total cooling and heating electrical energy annually, while achiev- ing 365 thermally comfortable days a year, including 177 days when only natural ventilation operating patterns are used. The study revealed the importance of considering the optimal operating patterns schedule as an approach to improve the environmental performance of heritage buildings. Also, the optimal annual operating schedule resulted in an adjusted base-case that can be used for evaluating the retrofitting scenarios for south-oriented, energy-efficient heritage buildings in temperate-humid climate.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Experimental and computational studies of circulating fluidized bed

ali moradi — 11-29-2020

Biomass gasification represents an efficient process for the production of power, heat and biofuels. Different technologies are used for gasification and this article focuses on a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) system. Understanding the behaviour of particles is of primary importance and a cold flow CFB experimental unit was constructed and tested. The particle circulation rate is greatly affected by the loop seal performance, and therefore the loop seal should be properly optimized to maintain an uninterrupted operation. Smooth flow regimes were obtained for the CFB by varying the loop seal aeration rates. Particles with size 850–1000 µm and 1000–1180 µm were chosen for the experiments. The minimum flow rates of air into the riser for the two particle sizes were found to be 1.3 and 1.5 Sm3/ min, respectively. To obtain a smooth flow regime, a velocity range for aeration in the loop seal was found for the two particle sizes. Based on the experimental results, combinations of flow rates were suggested for the simulations. A Computational Particle Fluid Dynamic (CPFD) model was developed using Barracuda VR, and the model was validated against experimental results. The simulated results for the system regarding the pressure and the height of the bed material in the standpipe agreed well with the experimental results. The deviation between the experimental and computational pressure was less than 0.5% at all the locations for both the particle sizes. The deviation in particle level was about 6% for the 850–1000 µm particles and 17% for the 1000–1150 µm particles. Both the experiments and the simulations predicted that a small fraction of the circulating sands are emitted from the top of the rig. The validated CPFD model was further used to predict the flow behaviour and the particle circulation rate in the CFB.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Evaluating the performance of PV modules in buildings (BIPV/BAPV) and the soiling effect in the UAE desert setting

edwin rodriguez-ubinas — 11-29-2020

This paper assesses the performance of photovoltaic (PV) technologies integrated into buildings in the desert climate and the factors that affect energy yield. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and standard mono-crystalline silicon (c-Si) modules were installed facing south, in the three more common tilt angles used in the Building Applied Photovoltaics (BAPV) and Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) applications at the Dubai latitude (90°, 25°, and 0°). We monitored the energy production, the temperature of the PV modules, irradiance on each tilt angle, and the meteorological parameters for a full year. We then calculated the performance ratio for the six modules to evaluate the different factors, including temperature and soiling losses, following IEC 61724-1. The 25° modules, usual PV rooftop angle, had the highest and more consistent energy yield throughout the year. Conversely, the energy yield of the 90° modules, typical angle for facades, vertical shading devices, and guardrails, had the lowest yield and showed wide variations. This is expected as the 90° angle is more affected by the seasonal changes of the solar altitude. The soiling losses on these modules were lower than 1%. However, at 0°, the soiling loss was more evident, with an average reduction of 10.79%. The c-Si module at 25° generated the highest normalized energy yield of 402.02 kW h/m², which was 23.5% more than that of CdTe module with the same tilt angle.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Energy engineering and consulting: New challenges and reality

l. d. gitelman — 09-29-2020

This article presents the results of studies that the authors conducted proceeding from a hypothesis that an increase of crises phenomena in the global economy, uncertainty, and higher risk along with the growing use of digital smart technology apply radically new requirements on knowledge-intensive services in the energy sector. The sector of management consulting and engineering services, which constitute the backbone of knowledge-intensive services, is faced with a new role of providing a mix of services addressing the tasks of devising anticipatory actions amid uncertainty and crisis based on forecasting. Analysis of changes in business models and the content of services indicate their strong capacity for smart logistics of complex projects, knowledge transfer in cooperation with universities and innovation institutions, managing the development of flexible technological and product solutions, and competency development in network teams. This article offers a detailed elaboration of an up-to-date conceptual framework of engineering and management consulting; provides an overview of global trends; and presents a case study of collaboration problems that emerge in cross-disciplinary teams working on smart grid projects and projects of energy supply in cities based on smart grid technology. A model of proactive management and anticipatory personnel training in energy companies is proposed. This article describes the skillset needed for implementing a concept of integrated knowledge-intensive services for technological modernization and digitalization of the energy sector.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 3, Pages undefined: ‘Good practices’ to improve energy efficiency in the industrial sector

simone maggiore — 09-29-2020

Since the introduction of the International Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) directive and of the Best Available Techniques Reference (BREF) documents, the best available techniques (BATs) have become a reference both for policies and for companies to compare performance and to identify investment opportunities. Due to the environmental core of the IPPC and the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), energy efficiency (EE) BATs are not always detailed and often lack energy-performance indicators. The H2020 EU-MERCI project is aimed at fostering and facilitating the implementation of EE projects in the manufacturing industry sectors by selecting and disseminating technological and policy best practices. A set of EE ‘Good Practices’ (GPs) was developed considering both BREF indications and literature analysis, and as innovative approach the outcomes of EE obligation and support mea- sures aimed at the industrial sector. This was implemented through an in-depth analysis of the existing schemes in four countries (Austria, Italy, Poland and UK) and a thorough activity to normalise and compare the data made available by the different schemes. The outcome is available through the European Industrial Energy Efficiency good Practices platform implemented by EU-MERCI Partners. On the platform, a database of EE projects implemented in industry under the existing schemes is available. The database is searchable by country, sector, supporting scheme, implementation year and company size. The complete list is also downloadable as Excel file. Besides, a library divided by sectors is available, in which it is possible to look for the available GPs (both BATs and projects implemented under the national schemes) for each phase of the manufacturing processes. Sectoral and national analyses are finally available. This article will illustrate the methodology used for the project and the main outcomes.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Application of Risk Analysis Results in Emergency Planning of a Nuclear Power Plant

j.-u. klügel — 09-29-2020

NPP Goesgen developed a full-scope probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) model, allowing for an estimate of the risk of offsite consequences. The model considers all operational modes of the plant, power operation, low power operation and shutdown conditions and all risk-relevant initiating events that may lead to a plant accident. The model allows computing different risk metrics starting from core damage frequency, frequency of a large offsite release to detailed plant damage states, activity release categories as well as the risk of offsite consequences expressed in radiological health effects. The risk model is programmed in the software system RISKMAN™ in the format of a set of linked event trees with associated fault trees. Analysis tools for the estimation of accident progression and offsite conse- quences support the model. A plant-specific simulator for severe accidents is in use, which is based on the MELCOR code. Off-site consequences in terms of dose levels are calculated using the MACCS 2.0 code. The full power models are used to support emergency planning by providing information on the possible consequences of hypothetical accidents in dependence on weather conditions. In cooperation with the responsible governmental agencies, this allows to support evacuation actions in case of severe accidents. Simple cartographic aids are available for emergency planning accounting for a possible loss of offsite power during an emergency, preventing the use of computational tools.

The paper presents the methodology and key insights of the risk assessment of offsite consequences for NPP Goesgen and demonstrates the use of the results in emergency planning.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Energy and Material Assessment of Municipal Sewage Sludge Applications Under Circular Economy

andrey kiselev — 09-29-2020

In the last decades, the amount of municipal sewage sludge generation rate has drastically increased due to population growth, spatial sewerage system development, and implementation of new treatment techniques. Nowadays, it is considered a globally prominent issue. Municipal sewage sludge contains pathogenic bacteria and viruses along with heavy metals, poorly biodegradable organic compounds, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics, which make its utilization management quite difficult. Landfill placement of sewage sludge is the most widely used technique worldwide, but is obsolete and inefficient, and accompanied by significant risk of environmental pollution with high logistics expenditure. Moreover, landfill placement means that all residual energy and potential material reuse applications are lost. The introduction of modern treatment techniques can solve the problem with sewage sludge generation, but it results in strong energy consumption increase of energy consumption. Moderniza- tion and operational policies based on circular economy principles are focused on relevant sewage sludge utilization issues with the potential use of waste-to-energy and recycling applications. The paper presents a methodological approach of cradle-to-grave assessment of sewage sludge treatment process based on energy and material flow analysis. The proposed methodology is studied within the real operational activities of big-scale wastewater treatment plants of two of the largest cities of Russia – Ekaterinburg and Perm. This investigation provides an efficient managerial tool for sustainable development that can be used by wide range of stakeholders.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 3, Pages undefined: A CPFD Model to Investigate the Influence of Feeding Positions in a Gasification Reactor

rajan jaiswal — 09-29-2020

The efficiency of a gasification process is directly related to the rate of biomass conversion into product gas. The rate of fuel conversion depends on the interaction of fuel with the bed material, the gasifying agent, and the residence time of fuel particles. The interactions and the residence time depend on the fuel feeding positions along the height of the reactor. Thus, the fuel feeding position in a gasification reactor is an important parameter that influences the efficiency of the gasification process; longer residence time of the fuel particles in the bed enables efficient carbon conversion and less tar formation. In this work, in-bed and on-bed feed positions of the fuel particles have been investigated using a computational particle fluid dynamics (CPFD) model. The model is developed and validated against experimental data obtained from a bubbling fluidized bed gasification reactor. Experiments were carried out in a 20 kW pilot scale bubbling fluidized bed gasification reactor. Wood pellets of 3–30 mm length and 5 mm diameter are fed into the reactor at a mass flow rate of 2.4 kg/h. The molar flow rate of the producer gas, which typically consists of CH₄, CO, CO₂, and H₂ for both the in-bed and on-bed cases, is calculated by the CPFD model. The results show that CO and CH4 concentrations increase in the product gas when the biomass is fed at the location near to the bottom of the bed, while CO₂ and H₂ increase in the case of on-bed feed. The fuel particles segregate, followed by partial combustion of the smaller fuel particles on the bed surface in the case of on-bed feed. The total mass of the bed including unreacted char is higher for on-bed feed, indicating that the char is consumed slowly. The CPFD model can predict the product gas compositions, the fuel conversion, changes in the bed hydrodynamics, and the product gas yield at different feeding positions of the fuel particles. Thus, the model can be useful for design purposes.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Solid-Recovered Fuel to Liquid Conversion Using Fixed Bed Gasification Technology and a Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Unit – Case Study

jakub čespiva — 09-29-2020

In order to utilise energy-rich solid waste, its liquid conversion into valuable hydrocarbon (HC) chains is one of the ways followed worldwide to decrease the oil processing and waste landfilling at the same time. The unique fixed bed updraft gasification reactor with an oscillating circular grate, situated in VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, Czech Republic, can generate up to 90 m3·h−1 of CO and H2-rich synthetic gas. Such valuable mixture is suitable for the gas to liquid conversion in Fischer– Tropsch Micro Catalyst Bed (F-T MCB) unit, where more complex substances of higher temperature and pressure form in the environment. This article focuses on solid-recovered fuel (SRF) gained as a mixture of industrial and communal waste sources. Gasification of such material in the fixed bed reactor can produce approximately 600 and 250 m3 of CO and H2, respectively, per ton of SRF in the abided gasification conditions. The gas, retrieved from the process, undergoes a thermochemical reaction on the surface of a catalyst within the reactor of the Fischer–Tropsch unit. As a result, a highly valued HC liquid is achieved from the suitable, non-recyclable waste treatment. Cobalt and iron catalysts in their plain form, as well as the catalysts enriched with Mn/K enhancers are put in comparison in this study. The quality and quantity of the synthesis product are examined and the technological aspects of both units are described. The amount of HC synthesis product ranges from 18 to 45 kg per ton of fuel. The composition tends to form HC chains in favour of groups of alcohols and alkanes.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Renewable Energy Potential for Strengthening the Energy Security in East Sumba–Sumba Island zone

yulianto budi — 09-29-2020

Sumba Island has been dubbed as the Iconic Island of renewable energy (RE). However, the realisation of such title has yet to go smoothly and optimally, and it has been faced with manifold hurdles, espe- cially those in relation to the programme continuity; even the electrification rate realised fell short of the rate target. This research aimed to analyse the RE with the highest potential that could be developed to strengthen the energy security of the Sumba Timur–Sumba Island zone. This research employed a hard system approach, namely, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method. Primary data were collected from fill- ing out expert-justified questionnaire. The experts were selected on purpose based on the criteria that they should have full understanding of the conditions and potential of renewable energy sources in Sumba Timur, be sufficiently experienced and be professional. The TOPSIS method was employed for the purpose of determining which RE source has the most potential according to the renewable energy security index. This study involved 30 experts and practitioners, comprising 11 government officials (G), eight businessmen (B), five academics/researchers (A), four community members (C) and two finance agency employees. The results showed that solar energy is the most promising and pos- sible energy source to be developed in East Sumba in the context of strengthening renewable natural resource–based energy source, while other potential alternative energy sources are hydro energy and wind energy.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Synthetic Natural Gas Production: Production Cost, key Cost Factors and Optimal Configuration

devasanthini devaraj — 06-29-2020

The volatile nature of the renewable energy sources requires energy storage to compensate for the imbalances and to provide reliable base load. Power-to-Methane technology facilitates long-term high capacity renewable energy storage in the form of Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) in the gas network. Unlike hydrogen, SNG usage in the network has no restrictions and natural gas appliances can operate on SNG. The two inputs required to produce SNG in the methanator are hydrogen and CO2 and they can be obtained from several sources. This leads to multiple possible process flow configurations in SNG production, each of them with varying performance. An optimization model has been developed in GAMS to analyse the performance of these various configurations. The objective of this research is to determine the optimal configuration, key cost factors and their effects on the production cost to identify the areas that require further development for cost reduction. This work also aims to determine the production cost per unit of SNG and the factors with most significant influence on the production cost by implementing a factorial design and a multivariate analysis (analysis of variance) approach. Methanator, electrolyser, biogas upgrader and hydrogen storage are considered as the fundamental process units in this work. The lowest production cost identified in the first year of production is 0.432 €/kWhSNG. The discounted production cost obtained shows that the lowest cost in 20 years from now is 0.143 €/kWhSNG. The variable with the most influence on the production cost is the capex of the methanator followed by the capacity of the methanator.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Determinants of Consumer Preference for Petrol Consumption: The Case of Petrol Retail in the Gambia

musa manneh — 06-29-2020

Service organizations in today’s globalized competitive business environment engaged in marketing strategies are geared toward responding to consumer needs and preferences and, at the same time, improve their competitive edge. Investigating the determinants of consumer preference is one of the important approaches to improving competitive edge of petrol station business. Despite significant studies on consumer behavior, especially factors that affect a new brand or products, there is limited empirical investigation on the premise of determinants of consumer preference particularly in petrol station business, thus creating a gap in this area. To this effect, this article intends to contribute in filling the knowledge gap by investigating the determinants of consumer preference and their impact on service station business in the Gambia. This article also identifies key marketing strategies that petrol station business can use to increase their market share. Using non-probability convenience sampling, data were collected from 200 customers of petrol stations using self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis were applied to analyze data using IBM SPSS statistics Version 22. The results of regression analysis identify marketing program and additional ser- vices out of the eight variables (marketing program, additional services, petrol station image, location, price, product assortment, service quality and management of service station) as the major determinants of service station consumer preference in the Gambia. This implies that petrol station companies should engage key marketing program strategies such as sales promotion, innovative product advertising, event sponsorship or association besides the provision of additional services like windscreen cleaning, water and air pumping, convenience store, fuel and motor product accessories sales plus services in order to increase sales as well as retain a large number of buyers as loyal customers.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Procedural Steps That Underpin Conflict Identification: Reference to Renewable Energy Resource Development in Kenya

philip m. omenge — 06-29-2020

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is a tool for an integrated assessment of multifac- eted impacts of a proposed project. ESIA can identify areas of potential conflicts and prevent conflicts from occurring early through appropriate mitigation measures. This notwithstanding, conflicts and public opposition arising from implementation of proposed projects which have been subjected to ESIA have been observed in various sectors in different countries and jurisdictions. Kenya is one of the African countries endowed with substantial renewable energy resources including geothermal, wind and solar energy resources. The country is now scaling up the development and utilization of these resources to meet growing energy demand. However, implementation of environmental procedures mainstreamed in the development of renewable energy resources, if inappropriately applied, has the potential to slow down development and exploitation trajectory of these resources. While all proposed renewable energy projects are subjected to the ESIA process, in some instances challenges have emerged at implementation resulting in conflicts that could be avoided. There is a clear need to understand, empirically, which of the ESIA procedural steps is critical in underpinning conflict identification for appropriate application. To determine how each of the ESIA procedural steps is likely to influence conflict identification, a statistical analysis was carried out for ESIA procedures based on questionnaire survey responses from sampled ESIA practitioners in Kenya. This article presents findings on the effect of ESIA procedural steps in conflict identification using cumulative odds ordinal logistic regression with proportional odds. Results show that the overall effect (on the dependent variable conflict identification) of the variables, public participation and monitoring is statically significant, χ2(2) = 9.12, p = 0.01 and χ2(2) = 6.29, p = 0.04, respectively. Further, the exponential of the log odds of the slope coefficients indicate that the independent variables public participation, decision making, project implementation and monitoring are statistically significant [χ2(1) = 9.12, p = 0.00; χ2(1) = 4.04, p = 0.04; χ2(1) = 3.64, p = 0.05 and χ2(1) = 3.31, p = 0.00, respectively]. That is to say these independent variables have a statistically significant effect on the dependent variable conflict identification.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Analysis of Container Ship Energy Systems

abdallah aijjou — 06-29-2020

Nowadays energy efficiency is a global concern for the maritime organization and business. Rising operating costs, mainly fuel prices and stricter environmental regulations are forcing the ship- ping industry to find more effective ways of designing and operating the ships in an energy-efficient manner. An analysis of the energy system of ships and understanding the different energy flows can contribute to better energy management and efficiency in the ships. Keeping this objective in mind, the energy systems of typical medium-sized container ships are analysed in this paper based on the vessel’s operating data and equipment parameters collected by the crew over three months. The study focuses on the energy and exergy balances of the main components. It has been shown that more than 80% of total energy consumption is caused by the propulsion plant, while the electric power generation accounts for 14–17%. Up to 60% of the energy supply is lost to the environment through the cooling system, radiation, friction and exhaust from diesel engines. Exergy losses caused by the exhaust gas and heat transfer are other contributors. Roughly 6% of the fuel exergy input is lost due to heat transfer. The exergy lost through the exhaust gas flue mainly from the main engine is estimated at 12% of the total exergy input. There is considerable potential for waste heat recovery on container vessels. However, to improve the overall energy efficiency, a techno-economic study has to be carried out on waste heat recovery solutions for each category of vessels and trading mode.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Energy Efficiency of World’s Leading Copper Producers

v.v. krivorotov — 06-29-2020

This paper provides an overview of the leading role that energy efficiency plays in the development of modern socio-economic systems, which serve as the foundation for building green economies. The main purpose of the paper is to develop a methodological toolkit for assessing energy efficiency of large industrial complexes and test it on the world’s largest metallurgical complexes. The central object of the research is the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC), which mainly specializes in the production of copper and copper-based products. The study follows a comparative analysis of a set of preliminary selected energy efficiency indicators obtained from UMMC with those of the world’s leading copper manufacturers and copper-based products. At the same time, in accordance with the methodical approach, it is proposed to divide the energy efficiency indicators of an industrial complex into three levels: the level of an industrial complex as a whole (1); the level of certain types of products manufactured in the industrial complex (2); the level of the technological process (3). To obtain summarized (synthetic) energy efficiency estimates of the industrial complex, the hierarchy analysis method has been proposed. For the comparative analysis of energy efficiency indicators of UMMC, the authors chose the following companies: Norilsk Nickel and Russian Copper Company and leading world companies, such as Glencore Xstrata Plc (Switzerland), Codelco (Chile), KGHM Polska Miedz SA (Poland), and Vedanta Resources (India). The obtained results revealed that UMMC strongly lags behind in a number of key energy efficiency indicators. During 2010–2016, a negative trend was observed in the majority of UMMC enterprises. The results also showed the practical applicability of the given methodical approach and the possibility of its wide use in solving energy efficiency problems of Russian industrial complexes for their strategic development.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Analysis of Biomasses for Their Thermochemical Transformations to Biofuels

pushpa jha — 06-29-2020

Biomasses in the forms of agricultural and forestry residues are gaining attention as alternative sources of energy due to various limitations of conventional sources of energy. Their applications as energy sources should be renewable and eco-friendly. The selection of biomass needs pairing with a suitable thermochemical process for the generation of biofuels and their precursors. This article communicates the investigation of acacia nilotica branch, bagasse, berry branch, coconut coir, corn cob, cotton stalk, groundnut shell, rice husk, rice straw and wheat straw as biomasses, for their considerations to ther-mochemical transformations. The authors explored the residues for their bulk density, calorific values, proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, ash fusibility characteristics and thermogravimetric analysis. The bulk density and calorific values of materials considered were quite low compared to that of conventional solid fuels. Therefore, they required palletisation for their economical utilisation as feedstocks for thermochemical conversions to energy carriers. The proximate analysis indicated that the fixed carbon:volatile matter of acacia nilotica branch was highest at 0.35, suggesting it as the most preferred feedstock for pyrolysis. The ultimate analysis showed that H/C (molar element ratios) of all residues were near to a constant value indicating the emissions of volatiles/gases were close to same quality after their specific thermochemical transformation. Ash deformation and fusion temperatures of mate- rials lied in the range of 900–1500°C, fixing the operating temperature limits for their transformations through combustors and gasifiers. Thermogravimetric analysis in the N₂ atmosphere indicated that the rate of pyrolysis was highest for all residues, in the temperature range of 300–500°C, suggesting the sufficiency of one reactor to carry out pyrolysis for the individual biomass. Thus, the analysis of biomasses for their thermochemical transformations is the prerequisite for their effective utilisations.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Experiments and Computational Particle Fluid Dynamics Simulations of Biomass Gasification in an Air-Blown Fluidized Bed Gasifier

ramesh timsina — 06-29-2020

Experiments were performed in a pilot-scale bubbling fluidized bed gasification reactor with air as a fluidizing agent. Birch wood chips and sand particles were used as biomass and bed materials. Average molar product gas composition was 0.214 of CO, 0.212 of CO₂, 0.103 of H₂, 0.074 of CH₄ and 0.397 of N₂. A kinetics-based model was developed for the gasification process and simulated using commercial software Barracuda®. The model is validated against the measured gas compositions. The validated model was used to study the product gas compositions for olive waste and straw pellets. The effects of equivalence ratio (ER) on the product gas composition for birch wood was also studied in one of the simulations. Birch wood gave the highest (20.5 mole %) CO production rate and lowest (9.0 mole %) H₂ production rate. The product gas flow rate was 1.96 Nm³ per kg of biomass and the lower heating value of the product gas was 6.65 MJ/Nm³. The CO concentration decreased from 25 to 13.2 mole %, whereas CO₂ concentration increased from 17 to 19.5 mole % when increasing ER from 0.2 to 0.3. The CO and H₂ concentrations for the olive waste were 8.1 and 56.1 mole %. The CO and H₂ concentrations for the straw pellets were 6 and 73.4 mole %.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 1, Pages undefined: An Expert System for Diagnostics and Estimation of Steam Turbine Components’ Condition

konstantin e. aronson — 03-03-2020

This article describes an expert system of probability type for diagnostics and state estimation of steam turbine technological subsystems’ components. The expert system is based on Bayes’ theorem and permits one to troubleshoot the equipment components, using expert experience, when there is a lack of baseline information on the indicators of turbine operation. Within a unified approach, the expert system solves the problems of diagnosing the flow steam path of the turbine, bearings, thermal expan- sion system, regulatory system, condensing unit, and the systems of regenerative feed-water and hot water heating. The knowledge base of the expert system for turbine unit rotors and bearings contains a description of 34 defects and 104 related diagnostic features that cause a change in its vibration state. The knowledge base for the condensing unit contains 12 hypotheses and 15 pieces of evidence (indications); the procedures are also designated for 20 state parameters’ estimation. Similar knowledge bases containing the diagnostic features and fault hypotheses are formulated for other technological subsystems of a turbine unit. With the necessary initial information available, a number of problems can be solved within the expert system for various technological subsystems of steam turbine unit: for steam flow path, it is the correlation and regression analysis of multifactor relationship between the vibration and the regime parameters; for thermal expansion system, it is the evaluation of force acting on the longitudinal keys depending on the temperature state of the turbine cylinder; for condensing unit, it is the evaluation of separate effect of the heat exchange surface contamination and of the presence of air in condenser steam space on condenser thermal efficiency performance, as well as the evaluation of term for condenser cleaning and for tube system replacement. With the lack of initial information, the expert system formulates a diagnosis and calculates the probability of faults’ origin.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 1, Pages undefined: A Case Study of Geothermal Resources Use for the Innovative Aquaculture from Perspective of Syntropic Development Concept

leszek świątek — 03-03-2020

Geothermal energy is developing with high progress to provide clean energy production standards at a world-wide scale. These projects are characterized with high risk level associated with drilling methods, resource existence, uncertain heat water temperature and its chemistry. The risk mitigation scenarios are crucial to avoid investment failure. Presented paper is a case study of geothermal investment in Trzęsacz, located in the Baltic coastline in Poland, where predicted heat water (38°C) was planned to be used for leisure, swimming and balneological purposes. The final effect of test drilling was disruptive. Thermal water has temperature 27°C and is not enough to fulfill needs of planned water park facilities and hot springs recreational proposals. The concept had to be revised. The amount of wasted water and embodied energy were recognized as a high entropy problem. In the spirit of syntropic development model, an idea to consume unwanted geothermal water and to treat it as useful local resource for aquaculture purposes was taken into consideration. That way the Jurassic Salmon Farm realization in Janowo in 2015, the first in the world salmon fishery based on geothermal resources, became an inspiration for future fishery deliberation, the fastest growing food sector globally. The Farm was realized 5 km from operating geothermal well, supported with EU funds and research programme led by West – Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin. The greenfield investment powered by renewable energy, based on biosafety and industrial ecology rules is an example of the 21st century bioculture. This one moved to urban areas may comply with broad sense to the city aquaculture, aquaponics or urban agriculture, with improvement of the risk reduction strategy in geothermal energy investments. This is the potential to be used by local communities, which can favor synergy effect on the way to regenerative design and syntropic development model.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Strategies for the Development of the Value of the Mining-Industrial Heritage of the Zaruma-Portovelo, Ecuador, in the Context of a Geopark Project

gricelda herrera franco — 03-03-2020

The enhancement of heritage resources helps to promote conservation, contributes to more significant and better protection, and favors the efficient use of these resources. Many heritage works and liabilities linked to mining activity are abandoned, causing the deterioration of heritage resources that may become environmental liabilities over time. this work aims to develop strategies for the development of the Mining-industrial heritages through participatory methods for geomining enhancement and development of places in the Zaruma-Portovelo area. The proposed methodology consists of: (i) the creation and development of a database with several publications and documents that register the Mining-industrial heritage sites; (ii) the assessment of mining-industrial sites based on criteria or methodologies proposed by other authors; (iii) focal group work considering: (a) the identification and cataloging geosites of interest, (b) the creation and/or development of museums, tourist mines, mineral routes or geoparks in which the natural and geological-mining factors complement each other and (iv) SWOT analysis and matrix which provides several strategies for value-making of geomining heritage and its promotion in the development of geotourism in a project proposal for Zaruma and its surroundings. in conclusion, this work includes twelve unified mining sites in the Proposal for Geopark ‘Ruta del Oro,’ as a strategy to guarantee the conservation of heritage values and contribute to local development and geotourism.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Biorefinery Done Right

michael lugo-pimentel — 03-03-2020

Following the COP21 conference in Paris, most of the world’s industrialized countries, as well as emerging markets, pledged to reduce or stabilize their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in light of increasing concerns regarding climate change [1]. The necessity to decrease ghg emissions will have implications on the consumption patterns of different types of energies around the world. apart from the obvious need to replace part of the increasing fossil fuel consumption in transportation (including road, rail, air and sea), there is a growing demand in other sectors as well, such as for electricity production, heating and cooling. Many opportunities are being investigated to address some of the issues related to this green energy transition, including the increased harnessing of alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass. Despite varying potential for each of the mentioned energy sources to help replace or supplement fossil fuels, only biomass currently has the potential to address most of these needs without requiring significant changes to existing energy distribution networks. for example, bio-mass can be burnt to generate combined heat and power, but it can also be used as a source of carbon to produce biofuels. In the latter case, biofuels such as ethanol could be blended into the existing fuel pool as well as distributed and utilized in engines without requiring significant modifications to the existing chain of distribution. This adaptiveness is not necessarily the case when considering electric vehicles (EV), although they are also of crucial importance towards collectively reducing ghg emissions. This manuscript will review the Biorefinery Done right-concept, developed by the company RéSolve Énergie in close collaboration with the Biomass Technology laboratory. This simple feedstock-agnostic technology allows conversion of any type of residual biomass (including but not limited to softwood bark) to three-types of biofuels. The first objective is to take advantage of the carbohydrate content in the biomass through hydrolysis of the constitutive hemicellulose and cellulose. The fermentable sugars are then converted to ethanol, achieved without any constraints, since the RéSolve process generates a hydrolysate with very low inhibitor levels. The lignin recovered from the process is essentially unmodified lignin and after washing, it is pelletized. Pellets, containing the most energetic components of the lignocellulosic biomass, can provide up to 26 GJ/tonne. Finally, the non-fermentable sugars (C5), as well as the lignin that does not comply with grade a lignin characteristics, are predigested for utilization in a classical biomethanation system. Hence, through this approach, 100% of the carbon from the biomass is converted into commercial products, which at this point are all related to the energy market.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Method of Identifying an Operating Regime in a Bubbling Fluidized Bed Gasification Reactor

rajan jaiswal — 03-03-2020

This work presents a new method for identifying the bubbling regime of a fluidized bed gasification reactor. The method has been developed using experimental measurements and a computational model. Pressure drops are measured in experiments, and pressure drop as well as solid volume fraction fluctuations are calculated by implementing the model. experiments are carried out with sand and limestone particles of mean diameter 346 µm and 672 µm, respectively. A computational particle fluid dynamics (CPFD) model has been developed for the reactor and implemented using a commercial CPFD software Barracuda VR. The model is validated against experimental measurements. The validated model is used to analyse the fluctuation of pressure drop and solid volume fraction as a function of superficial air velocity. The change in standard deviation of pressure drop and solid volume fraction fluctuation is used to predict the transition from one regime to another. The method can be used in the design and operation of a bubbling fluidized bed gasification reactor. The results show that the minimum fluidization velocity for sand and limestone are 0.135 m/s and 0.36 m/s, respectively and are independent of the particle aspect ratio. Both types of particle beds make the transition into bubbling regime as soon as they get fluidized. The bed aspect ratios have almost no effect on the onset of bubbling fluidization regime. The slugging velocity decreases with increasing aspect ratio for both types of particles. The operating range of the bubbling fluidized bed for sand particle is 0.2–0.4 m/s and 0.5–0.8 m/s for the limestone particles.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Potential for Photovoltaic Cell Material by Green Synthesis of Silicon Carbide from Corn Cob Through Magnesiothermic Reduction

arwil nathaniel r. alfonso — 03-03-2020

Corn cobs can be processed chemically to generate new products for electricity employing a simple, low-cost, and environment friendly method. In this article, silicon carbide (SiC) and activated carbon can be synthesized from corn cobs via sol–gel and a chemical activation method, respectively. SiC was synthesized by reacting the synthesized silica and activated carbon with magnesium powder, which served as catalyst at 600 oC. The SiC was doped with varying amount of Al2O3 (0.01, 0.015, 0.02 and 0.1 g), a p-type dopant, via solvothermal synthesis. The undoped SiC was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). Then, the band-gap energy and conductivity of undoped SiC and p-doped SiC were determined. SEM-EDX and FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of Si–C bond in the synthesized SiC from corn cob. It was observed that p-doped SiC absorbs higher energy in the visible region than undoped SiC. FTIR analysis confirmed the incorporation of the aluminum in the SiC. UV–vis spectros-copy confirmed that the synthesized p-doped SiC exhibits higher absorbance compared with undoped SiC. Aluminum doping also increased absorption bands on the visible region making it more efficient for potential application in photovoltaic (solar) cells because of the decreased band-gap energy and increase in conductivity of p-doped SiC. The ratio of 1:1–2 (SiC:Al) showed the lowest band-gap and highest conductivity with a value of 1.57–1.58 eV and 0.080–0.082 mS/cm compared with the amount of other p-dopants. Statistically, it was found that the 1:1–2 ratio of SiC:Al can be an effective p-junction for the application in photovoltaic (solar) cells.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2020, Volume 5, Issue 1, Pages undefined: UI GreenMetric and Campus Sustainability: A Review of the Role of African Universities

ernest baba ali — 03-03-2020

The desire to combat the negative externalities of climate change and its variability has gained a lot of ground over the last few decades. This has resulted in the development of several approaches among which is the UI GreenMetric university ranking developed in 2010. In light of this, this article seeks to examine the performance of African higher education institutions on the ranking table and the impact they have had on their respective countries. To achieve this, this article compared performance scored between participating universities, carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission trends, and renewable energy consumption trends. The findings paint a picture of poor performance across each of the categories measured under the UI GreenMetric ranking. However, there was some marginal decline in CO₂ emissions as well as an increase in renewable energy consumption for some participating countries. The findings reveal that participation of African universities in the ranking has been very low. Institutionalizing green campus initiatives by African governments to make it a must for a higher education institution to adopt such strategies was recommended. The study also recommends an increase in sup- port for research in the area of green technologies, methods, and procedures in Africa so as to create enough awareness and education on the topic.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Sustainable Energy for Smart City

l.d. gitelman — 11-29-2019

The article presents the results of a study of structural changes in the energy sector serving digital technologies for the urban environment of the future that is being created now. The study considers country-specific factors and problems of ensuring the sustainability of heat and power supply. The authors look at the priority areas of a new phase of electrification aimed at the development of advanced energy-saving smart technologies, electric transport, electric cars and appropriate energy and utility infrastructure. The case is studied of developing engineering, technical, organizational and economic solutions when overhauling the heat supply system in a ‘smart’ residential district of Yekaterinburg, one of Russia’s megalopolises, that is being designed and constructed on the basis of the principles of intelligent engineering infrastructure.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Energy Rehabilitation of Buildings Through Phase Change Materials and Ceramic Ventilated Façades

víctor echarri iribarren — 11-29-2019

In recent years, phase change materials (PCMs) have gained major relevance for their ability to take advantage of indoor/outdoor air temperature differences to store energy. This characteristic of PCMs allows to transfer stored energy to periods of energy demand, thus achieving optimum conditions of comfort and notable energy savings. The present study compared the energy consumption of a traditional façade and a ventilated façade to which large format ceramic tiles covered with PCMs were applied. For this purpose, an office building in the city of Alicante was used as a case study. Salt hydrate PCMs were attached to the slabs, and air was allowed to circulate or not circulate through night and day dampers as passive conditioning, accumulating energy. The energy performance of the building was simulated using the Lider-Calener (HULC) energy certification tool in both scenarios. The building’s energy demand was calculated in its current state and with the ventilated façade with ceramic tiles and PCMs. An energy saving of 5% was obtained.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Energetic Retrofit of Historical Downtown Buildings: Cost Effectiveness and Financing Options

viktoria sugar — 11-29-2019

Today several energy saving measures are being taken worldwide. As a component of these, the energy efficiency of the buildings should be increased. Given the high ratio of the existing, ineffective building stock, large-scale retrofit actions are going to be needed to reduce their energy usage. The historical districts and the heritage buildings stand as special part of the above question, as several limitations increase the complexity of their retrofit.

In present paper, the authors are introducing retrofit possibilities for the traditional apartment house type, widespread in the past Austro-Hungarian downtowns. A detailed methodology for complex renovation is divided to three main aspects: energy efficiency, monument protection guidelines and feasibility. By combining the above aspects, optimized renovation scenarios and their cost efficient financing implementation are surveyed.

Results show, that the energy saving and heritage respecting solutions are not economically feasible enough to be appealing for private investors. The retrofit, however, is much needed to increase the life quality of residents, save energy, and protect the unique architectural character, now constantly endangered by demolitions.

The authors suggest solutions for the above problem by creating possible financing scenarios, which can be used as a benchmark for preliminary decision making in case of a planned retrofit.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 4, Pages undefined: A Simplified Method to Select Combined Energy Systems

sérgio tadeu — 11-29-2019

The European Union aims to ensure that investment in energy efficiency measures is cost-effective. Thus, the minimum energy performance requirements of buildings must follow the so-called cost-optimal levels. It is known that the impact of a specific measure on the energy performance is affected by others measures when implemented simultaneously, influencing its profitability. for this reason, the profitability of a given package of measures cannot result from the simple sum of potential benefits of each measure. consequently, to define a cost-optimal solution it is needed to run a great amount of combinations, implying an expensive computational effort. In order to help with the selection of the energy systems, this work proposes a simplified method for selecting heating and domestic hot water systems as a function of the following variables: initial investment, maintenance cost, energy needs and cost, and efficiency of energy systems. The proposed method is user-friendly and can assist various stakeholders: policy makers, energy experts, suppliers of products and services and building owners.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass in Biobutanol by a Novel Thermal Process

maricelly martinez — 11-29-2019

This work aims at demonstrating the possibility of producing 2-butanol from lignocellulosic biomass through a new thermochemical approach. The production of biobutanol was carried out using different lignocellulosic feedstock through a 3-step process: first the whole lignocellulosic biomass is hydrolyzed under acid catalyst to produce levulinates, then the levulinates go through decarboxylation to produce 2-butanone which is, in a final step, reduced to produce of 2-butanol. The experimental conditions for the first two steps of the process were optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM). The latter could represent an opportunity for the production of economical second-generation butanol without having to go through the classical pathway requiring the production of sugar prior to microbial conversion.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Effect of Particle Size on Flow Behavior in Fluidized Beds

ramesh timsina — 11-29-2019

The fluidization behaviour depends on particle properties such as particle size, sphericity, density and the properties of the fluidizing agent. In this study, the effects of different particle sizes on fluidization behaviour were investigated. Experiments were done by mixing sand particles of mean diameter 293µm (small particle) and 750 µm (large particle). The experiment with 20% small particles and 80% large particles gave a reduction in minimum fluidization velocity of 60.8% compared to the minimum fluidization velocity with only large particles. CPFD simulations were performed using the commercial software barracuda®. There is a good agreement between the results from the experiments and the simulations. The minimum fluidization velocity is also calculated using different theoretical equations based on the average particle size for the mixture. The obtained experimental results were compared with the minimum fluidization velocity calculated using different equations available in the literature. There are significant differences in minimum fluidization velocities obtained from the different empirical equations. The pressure drop profiles for large and small particles follow the trends presented in the literature. The experimental minimum fluidization velocities were found to be 0.46 and 0.092 m/s for the large and small particles respectively.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Thermodynamic Modeling of Cogeneration Mini CHP Using Air Conversion of Diesel Fuel and Electrochemical Generator

sergei e. shcheklein — 11-29-2019

At present, the production of electrical and heat power uses diesel-generator technology with a limited service life of engines and extremely low efficiency of the expensive fuel used. In this paper, an innovative technology has been considered for the combined electrical and heat power production using the preliminary conversion of diesel fuel into synthesis gas with its subsequent supply to a high temperature electrochemical generator (ECG). Synthesis gas for the operation of the electrochemical generator was produced by air conversion of motor diesel fuels in a catalytic burner reactor. On the basis of heat balances of the burner, ECG and waste-heat boiler-utilizer, electrical efficiency of the solid oxide fuel cells’ (SOFC) battery, chemical efficiency of the burner, the temperature at the SOFC anode, the EMF of the planar cell, a portion of hydrogen oxidized at the SOFC anode, specific consumption of diesel fuel for the production of electrical and heat power were calculated. Specific consumption of diesel fuel for the production of electrical and heat power was found to be equal to 114 g/kWh (162 g r.f./kW·h) and 31.7 kg/GJ (45.1 kg r.f./GJ, 189 kg r.f./ Gcal), respectively. Specific fuel consumption is similar to an up-to-date CHP and is significantly lower than the consumption of modern diesel-electric stations of equal power.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Influence of Oil Prices in Dynamic Positioning Training

zaloa sanchez-varela — 09-10-2019

The main purpose of this research is to present the influence of the oil price drop in the offshore training industry and the actions taken to minimise this effect. In particular, data corresponding to the Offshore Dynamic Positioning (DP) training and certification scheme by the Nautical Institute were used for the research. Since the oil price began to drop by the end of 2014, the oil and gas industry had to make some readjustments to keep the profits and continue in the business. The offshore DP training was affected by this crisis in two ways: the number of candidates starting the certification scheme dropped significantly; and on the other hand, candidates who had already begun the scheme were unable to complete the required number of days to be able to access the DP Simulator course, or for obtaining the DP Opera- tor certificate. During this period, the training and certification scheme has undergone some changes to adapt to the new situation and to try to resolve the problems mentioned above. The analysis of the data shows that the effect of the oil price drop was not initially affecting the training but only began to show the consequences after some months.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages undefined: First Wholly-Analytical Gas Volume Fraction Model for Virtual Multiphase Flow Metering Petroleum Industry

anand s. nagoo — 09-10-2019

In this seminal contribution, the world’s first wholly-analytical gas volume fraction multiphase flow model is formulated and demonstrated in virtual flow meter and production allocation field applications for its differentiated ability to achieve improved reliability of phase flow rate calculations given pressure and temperature measurements at two different locations along multiphase production systems. The presented simple gas volume fraction equation is explicit in form and is validated against both lab data and oilfield flowline data. A crucial requirement for differential pressure flow meters for multiphase production systems, particularly wet gas systems in annular and annular-mist flows, is the calculation of the averaged gas volume fraction. Additional calculations include multidirectional entrainment calculations, which strongly affect the simultaneous entrainment of liquids in the gas phase and the gas in the liquid phases. historically, prior published gas volume fraction two-phase flow models had closure relations and artifi- cial adjustment (fitting) factors linked to controlled lab-scale conditions involving immiscible fluids that bear no resemblance to the complex petroleum mixtures undergoing phase change in uncontrolled long wellbore and flowline environments. Thus, ambiguous extrapolations were necessary leading to increased uncertainties. using an asymptotic approximation analysis approach, an analytical gas volume fraction equation is derived that overcomes this empirical-based restriction. In terms of comprehensive validation, the presented analytical gas volume fraction equation is demonstrated first for its ability to reliably repro- duce over 2600 two-phase annular and annular-mist flow experimental datasets inclusive of circular and non-circular conduits. Secondly, readily available published experimental data of both constant-diameter as well as variable-diameter sub-critical to critical choke two-phase flows are used for model validation in scenarios involving different flow obstructions. lastly, an offshore subsea flowline dataset is used to demonstrate the improved reliability of the new equation at field-scale operational conditions.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Asset Management in Grid Companies Using Integrated Diagnostic Devices

l.d. gitelman — 09-10-2019

The digitization of power grids envisages a transition to new models of fault diagnosis, repair and maintenance of electric power grid equipment. The most promising tools for implementing advanced production asset management strategies are integrated technologies that are based on robotic diagnostic platforms, various hardware–software instruments and smart data analysis systems. The article analyzes other countries’ experience of developing robotic methods of fault diagnosis and mainte- nance of overhead power transmission lines, which present a major challenge in terms of monitoring, failure prediction and localized repairs. The Cablewalker robotic system was used as an example for identifying the advantages of integrated diagnostic hardware systems as opposed to traditional meth- ods of power grid equipment maintenance and overhaul. Recommendations are given for adopting the technology in grid companies. During trials of the technology on a 2.34-km section of a power transmission line 112 defects were detected versus three that were identified by means of ‘manual’ inspection. A digital twin of the transmission line was created to manage its technical condition with regard to various risks.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Energy Efficiency Measures for an Electrical Material Industry

luís f. amado — 09-10-2019

The main goal of the present paper is to present the study of energy efficiency measures for an electrical material industry. The high-energy consumption of this kind of industry lead companies to search for solutions that allow increasing the energy efficiency in their installations and in the processes, promoting the reduction of the energy consumption and costs. In this context, the objectives of this study emerged, which resulted from the main needs identified by the company. Therefore, the work was divided into four parts. The first one, was the study of replacing the existing lighting (mainly mercury vapor lamps by led); another study conducted was the replacement of the electric motors in injection machines by new and more efficient ones; the third one was the installation of a photovoltaic solar system (for self-consumption) and, finally, the project of a new power converter station for the company. The energy efficiency studies carried out are based on: a careful analysis of the data provided by the company; all the measurements done; the consumption profiles that have been drawn; an extensive market research (with the purpose of finding the most efficient solutions for each case); and in already existing and proven calculation methodologies, leading, in this way, to a greater reliability of the obtained results. These studies showed to which extent the implementation of the various measures presented are economically viable, their impact on the reduction of energy consumption and the annual savings achieved.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages undefined: A Paradigm of Reforms with Alternate Energy Sources

eisa al-haddad — 09-10-2019

This paper focusses on rapidly growing gas demand in the state, its key drivers and solutions. Emphasis is provided on Kuwait’s outlook and ventures into liquefied natural gas (lNg), controls and measures developed for handling constraints in logistical infrastructure. requirement for tight interaction between the suppliers and consumers was pivotal to segregate different qualities of natural gas to certain consumers. A robust gas Network system was conceived in the state and it was concluded that under normal operating conditions, it will be possible to supply gas to all essential consumers by combining the available gas from upstream units, refineries and lNg import facility. In this work, a full-blown gas network was simulated to determine transportation capacities, potential restrictions of suppliers and flexibility to use different types of gases available in the system. The study outlined decisive propositions such as the natural gas produced in the state will not be adequate to fulfil the future energy demand, therefore, additional sources such as lNg were more deeply analysed. moreover, the current energy strategy is primarily based on fossil fuels and hence more efforts were required in implementing renewable energy solutions. In line with this approach, implementation of state sponsored renewable energy projects is underway and by 2030 the share of renewable energy is planned to stretch up to 15% of overall power demand.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Unconventional Small-Scale Biogas Production with Reduced Local Impact

elena cristina rada — 09-10-2019

One of the problems of food waste management is the acceptability of the treatment plants at local level because of the risk of odours. Anaerobic digestion as first step before composting has contributed to solve this problem, but, in the sector, it remains an opposition to large plants. That affects also food waste anaerobic digestion: people’s perception is that the stream coming at the gate of the plant is not theirs. The present paper shows an alternative to the conventional approach. The aim is to reduce the scale of the intervention giving a solution also to small municipalities or to an aggregation of small municipalities. The basic idea is suitable for adaptations depending on the local availability of manure and other plants specialised on wastewater. The integrability of these plants allows reduc- ing the costs for treating secondary streams to be managed, as discussed in the article. The extreme technological scenario is based on an anaerobic digester with unconventional pre-treatment of food waste and energy recovery, on a hydro-thermal carbonisation reactor for manure, on an ammonia separator for product recovery (by stripping), on a CO₂ separator (from off-gases), on a hydro-biochar flusher for opening to land application and on mechanised small-scale composters for small communities. The principles of the circular economy are adopted, but the economic balance is affected by the transport costs of the products. The suitability of this approach to medium income countries is discussed too.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Management of Challenges During the Construction of Offshore Facilities

ove t. gudmestad — 09-10-2019

The construction of offshore facilities for development of oil and gas deposits is preceded by careful Conceptual Studies, Front-End Engineering Design Studies (FEED studies) and a Detailed Engineering phase including accurate construction planning. Still, incidents during the Construction Phase could lead to needs for implementation of physical strengthening of construction details or changes to the construction process. These incidents could emerge from information coming from the construction of other facilities, detection of design errors or aspects which were overseen during the engineering phase. Serious consequences, like loss of assets or fatalities, could occur in case the unexpected information was not assessed and changes were not implemented.

In this paper, we report on how the design and construction processes were adjusted during the construction phase of the largest of the North Sea platforms, the Troll offshore gas production facilities, as new information became available while the platform was in the construction phase.

The assessment of all incoming information and implementation of mitigating measures led to the successful construction, installation and start-up of gas production from the platform. Of particular impor- tance for the success was the open attitude by the operator of the construction project to allow for voicing of concerns from companies hired to do verification, external reviewers and from project personnel.

The lessons learned during the construction of these facilities could be very useful for those involved in the design and construction of large projects, in particular in offshore oil and gas projects where the forces due to waves and currents and the strains due to bending and pressures are not always well known initially.

The paper is concluded by a recommendation to listen to those presenting warnings to project management during project execution (including the detailed engineering and construction phases).

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Experimental and Computational Studies on Biomass Gasification in Fluidized Beds

tommy basmoen

The world’s energy consumption is increasing, and research regarding utilization of renewable energy sources is crucial. Biomass for direct heating has been used for thousands of years, while in the last decades alternative ways to exploit biomass have emerged. In order to increase the efficiency and to produce more applicable products, gasification of biomass is becoming a more and more promising technology. For the gasification technology to be competitive, the understanding of the various aspects regarding the gasifier operation, which in turn influences the quality of the product gas, is of utmost importance. The main objective of this work is to investigate the effect of the air to biomass ratio on the produced gas composition in terms of the high-energy components H2, CH4 and CO. Experiments were performed with wood chips in a pilot scale gasification reactor. The results show that an air-to-biomass ratio less than one gives the most applicable gas composition. Biomass, like wood chips, has a peculiar shape, has a large particle size, is cohesive, and is therefore difficult to fluidize. In a fluidized bed gasifier, a bed material is used to improve the fluidization quality. Experiments were carried out in a cold bed model to study the fluidization properties of the bed material. Minimum fluidization velocities were predicted based on pressure drop in the bed.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Energy Conservation in University Buildings by Energy Pattern Analysis Using Clustering Technique

bishnu nepal

The energy demand of the building sector is increasing rapidly, driven by the improved access to energy in developing countries, greater ownership and use of energy-consuming devices, and rapid growth in building floor area. Energy demands in the building sector account for more than 30% of the total energy consumption and more than 55% of the global electricity demand. Efforts to develop sustain- able buildings are progressing but are still not keeping up with the growing building sector and the rising demand for energy. Analyzing the energy consumption pattern of the buildings and planning for energy conservation in existing buildings are essential. In this research we proposed a method to analyze the energy pattern of university buildings using K-means clustering method. Energy consumption in Science, non-science and office buildings of university is analyzed and their respective base energy, energy consumption due to human activities and air-conditioning energy consumption is calculated. The proposed method is successful in classifying the energy consumption and will prove to be helpful in the planning of energy conservation in buildings.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Risk Assessment of Renewable Energies: Global Exposure

g.s. chebotareva

The current stage of renewable energy (RE) development poses new challenges to this sector. The existing mechanisms of state stimulation of Renewable energy system are gradually exhausting its capacity. This requires the development of new methods to support the industry, or giving them up altogether. This article presents the results of the theoretical analysis of the systemic features of RE risk assessment at each stage of a project’s life cycle. A sectoral approach to the risk assessment of energy projects is proposed. It is based on the well-known logit-model that studies a set of external and internal indicators. Based on this model, a study of the dynamics of the risk indicators of RE projects on three basic stages was conducted. Calcula- tions were made for RE projects implemented in different countries of the world, including China, USA, Canada, Japan, India and a number of European countries. Initially, all projects were divided into three main groups depending on the types of state support: concessional lending, subsidies or the lack thereof. Based on the results of the calculations, the overall and average dynamics of risk by group and by project stage allowed for assessing the global effectiveness of state measures to support the sector, as well as for drawing appropriate conclusions in the context of individual countries. The results of the study are of prac- tical importance and will be used in developing a new approach to risk assessment, taking into account the specifics of the RE market, as well as in enhancing the concept of competition in the global energy market.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Flexibility of Drinking Water Systems: An Opportunity to Reduce CO₂ Emissions

chouaib mkireb

Drinking water systems (DWSs) are huge electricity consumers, mainly due to pumping operations. In these systems, electricity costs represent approximately one-third of the total operating costs. because of the environmental impact of electricity generation worldwide (coal, gas, and diesel), water systems also implicitly contribute to global warming. However, these systems have flexibility thanks to water storage structures (tank and reservoirs) and variable speed pumps. The flexibility of DWSs is generally used to optimize energy costs. Furthermore, this flexibility can also be used to provide an environmental and operational service for the power system, by reducing peak power load and the volume of energy transactions on wholesale markets. Indeed, peak power reduction can be sold by water utilities on electricity markets, preventing the production of an equivalent amount of additional energy. In France, peak hours require a massive use of fossil energy sources, which makes electricity production at these periods extremely expensive, both economically and ecologically. using a mathematical opti- mization model, we optimize the management of these peak periods by shifting load at off-peak hours and selling the reduced energy on the French wholesale energy market. In this paper, we explore the ecological benefits that water systems could provide through this optimization process. We evaluate the CO₂ emissions that can be effectively reduced on three real DWSs in France. For these three sys- tems, avoided CO₂ emissions were estimated at 2,190 kg/day for the largest system and 194 kg/day for the smallest one, which is equivalent to the emission of 145–1620 cars during 10 km of driving. We also evaluate, based on some hypotheses, the potential for CO₂ reduction from water systems at the French scale.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Comparison of Catalysts in the Point of View of Pellet Stove Flue Gas Purification

jiří ryšavý

Monolithic catalysts are used as a method for the flue gases purifying by oxidation of gas products from incomplete combustion. This study is focused on three different types of monolithic catalysts and quantification of their degree of influence on mass concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) and organic gaseous compounds (OgCs) in real small-scale wood pellet stove. Catalysts were placed right behind the stove at the flue gas outlet. The comparison consisted of quantification of their influence on the selected pollutants during the few-hours steady operation of the small-scale pellet stove. Reference values of the selected pollutants were defined during the combustion test without a catalyst installed. In this article, three catalysts based on different active compounds: wO3–v2O5, Pd and Pt were tested. The palladium-based catalyst has proven the best degree of conversion of CO (almost 78%). The platinum-based catalyst has proven the best degree of conversion of OgC (almost 64%). Due to a big degree of clogging by solid particles of all catalysts during the tests, it is impossible to operate the chosen stove with tested types of catalysts in normal operation at home conditions. without any type of periodical cleaning (every few hours), there is a serious danger of leakage of the flue gas out of the stove. Further investigations should evaluate the degree of clogging in a long-term operation and should propose a method to avoid any danger of the flue gas leaking caused by the catalysts.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Potentials of the Waste-to-Energy Sector for an Unconventional District Heating System

marco ragazzi

In spite of being a process that exploits a renewable source of energy, the combustion of wood-based biomass contributes to deteriorate outdoor and indoor air quality. Critical situations for human exposure may occur in mountainous areas, where wood-based biomass is usually abundant and the complex morphology may favour the stagnation of air pollutants in valleys. Replacing wood/pellet stoves with centralised systems would reduce the impact, but the construction of district heating systems may not be convenient in areas with low density of houses. A possible solution could rely on direct electrical heating (DEH) systems, preferably fed by thermochemical processes that help achieve environmen- tal goals for the local community, like the reduction of waste landfilling and the valorisation of the energy content of waste. This paper aims at presenting a comparison between the impacts expected by household wood/pellet stoves and by a modern waste-to-energy (WtE) plant, in terms of emissions of air pollutants into the atmosphere, when replacing wood stoves with a DEH system fed by the electric energy generated by the WtE plant. The comparison shows that the replacement of household stoves with an equivalent DEH system would be beneficial in terms of impacts on the local air quality. Such an approach could be considered to reduce the health impacts from biomass burning in critical areas like the Alpine region.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 2, Pages undefined: CPFD Model for Prediction of Flow Behavior in an Agglomerated Fluidized Bed Gasifier

nora c.i.s. furuvik

Renewable energy sources have significant potential for limiting climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions due to the increased global energy demand. Fluidized bed gasification of biomass is a substantial contribution to meeting the global energy demand in a sustainable way. however, ash-related problems are the biggest challenge in fluidized bed gasification of biomass. bed agglomeration is a result of interaction between the bed material and alkali metals present in the biomass ash. The agglomerates interfere with the fluidization process and might result in total de-fluidization of the bed. The study focuses on ash challenges related to the fluidization behavior in gasification of biomass. a model is developed and verified against results from previous performed experiments in a cold flow model of a bubbling fluidized bed. The commercial computational particle fluid dynamics (CPFD) software barracuda Virtual reactor is used for the computational study. The simulations show that the CPFD model can predict the fluidization process of an agglomerated fluidized bed gasifier.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Thermal-Hydraulic Response of a Reactor Core Following Large Break Loss-of-Coolant Accident under Flow Blockage Condition

young seok bang

Since the revision of the requirements to consider the effect of fuel burnup on emergency core cooling system performance was proposed, flow blockage in reactor core has been one of the important issues in the thermal-hydraulic analysis of loss-of-coolant accident (loca). The present paper describes how much flow blockage would be expected following a large break loca based on the actual nuclear design data including the power and burnup of the fuel rods. a system thermal-hydraulic code, mars-ks, is used for calculation where the burnup specific data of the fuel rods is supported by a fuel performance code, fracon3. To recover the weakness of the system code in which the flow blockage under multiple rods configuration cannot be automatically simulated in hydraulic calculation, a special modelling scheme is developed and applied to the calculation. The effect of flow blockage on the thermal-hydraulic response of the reactor core is also discussed. To compensate for the uncertainty of the present flow blockage model, additional calculations are attempted for a wide range of the level of blockage.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Atmospheric Dispersion Patterns of Radionuclides Originating from Nuclear Power Plant Accidents under Various Release Types

efem bilgic

Nuclear power has begun to lose its popularity after the major catastrophes of Chernobyl and Fukushima that caused a global environmental and public health problem. Radioactivity released from these accidents spread all around the world and negatively influenced large areas as a result of different meteorological conditions prevailing at the time of the accidents. Another particularly important parameter used in assessing the atmospheric dispersion of radioactivity is the characteristics of the source term that defines the release pattern of radionuclides from the accident site. Core inventory and shape and extent of the release define the source term to be used in simulating the dispersion pattern of radioactivity. Thus, mathematical representation of the source term is a crucial part of the dispersion modeling of radionuclides. Ideal types of releases (such as pulse, step, linear, sinusoidal) can occur in an accident or a combination of these types can constitute the real pattern of the release from the accident’s source. The mathematical character of the release is influential in the overall dispersion and deposition of radioactivity. Based on this premise, this study is conducted to assess the possible differences in the spatial distribution of dispersed and deposited radionuclides that can originate from a potential accident in Akkuyu nuclear power plant (NPP) in the southern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Simulations are performed with FLEXPART model to predict the atmospheric dispersion and ground level depositions of radionuclides to be released from a hypothetical accident in Akkuyu under various release patterns and different meteorological conditions representing extreme conditions. Model simulations considered a 10-day release duration with distinct release patterns under extreme meteorological conditions for the site. A comparative assessment is then conducted to evaluate the extent and magnitude of Cs-137 dispersion and deposition, which is the most commonly used radionuclide in NPP accident simulations.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 1, Pages undefined: An Optimization of the Municipal Solid Waste in Abuja, Nigeria for Electrical Power Generation

o. m. aderoju

Currently, Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, is experiencing an exponential increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation due to its rapid population growth, level of development, and its socioeconomic status among others. Moreover, MSW is an overburden to the Abuja environment in terms of its management and health risk to the inhabitants. However, MSW is utilized by some countries as fuel for energy generation through the waste to energy (WTE) approach. In view of this, the study aims at assessing the MSW in Abuja as a potential resource for electrical power generation and distribution. This study is focused on incineration with energy recovery as an immediate solution for MSW reduction, and a supplementary answer to erratic electric power supply to the people. The proximate and ultimate analyses in combination with the modified Dulong equation were employed to determine the gross calorific value (GCV). Results showed that the GCV was evaluated as 9,085 kcal/kg and the net calorific value (NCV) was evaluated as 9,067 kcal/kg. Furthermore, the power generation potential was enumerated using 10 and 50 tons of combustible MSW to arrive at 966 kWh and 4,832 kWh, respectively.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Incorporation of LNG into Small Gas Networks via FSRUs

devasanthini devaraj

Geopolitical risks on pipeline gas imports, increasing natural gas demand and the need to ensure continuous power supply with ever increasing fluctuating renewable power generation require diversification of gas sources to ensure supply security. With the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade increasing every year and natural gas prices remaining relatively low, more and more countries are interested in investing in regasification infrastructure. Establishing a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) and importing LNG has several advantages: lower cost compared to an onshore terminal, flexibility in relocation and the availability of short-term contracts all of which help serve small markets. FSRUs can also be operated in standby mode or used as an LNG storage facility. Operating an FSRU as a storage facility while beneficial for small networks introduces the challenges of LNG weathering and managing of the boil-off gas (BOG). To investigate these challenges on operation, a mathematical model is developed to determine the boil-off rate (BOr) over various time frames. The initial BOr is 0.129% of the initial storage volume increased to 0.143% after 10 weeks. Subsequent use of aspen hySyS to determine the change in LNG composition determined that Wobbe Index (WI) of the LNG varied from 51.58 to 51.616 mj/Nm3 after 10 weeks of storage. an annual economic estimation of operating FSRU as a storage facility was carried out determining that the per unit price of gas obtained from regasified LNG is at least 42% lower than the current per unit price of gas in Ireland.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Floating Solar PV—Hydroelectric Power Plants in Brazil: Energy Storage Solution with Great Application Potential

jair arone maués

Photovoltaic (PV) solar farms and hydropower stations can create a plant that do more than the two resources acting independently as long as, with the addition of a solar project, hydroelectric plants increase its annual availability of power and economic efficiency, taking advantage of the storage capacity of energy that a hydroelectric reservoir can provide. The objective of this paper is to investigate the potential of Brazilian hydropower plants regarding these issues using the large amount of available data recorded. There exists a potential increase in the energy production of 53.3 TWh per year based on the proposed optimized solution for the Brazilian hydropower stations with significant water storage capacities assessed in this paper. This energy is equivalent to an additional capacity factor of approximately 20% to the original 31.5 GW installed hydro capacity or almost 10% of the Brazilian electricity demand in 2018. This result would be at the expenses of a huge deployment of 34 GW of solar PV floating power plants installed close to the reservoir dams that must yet prove to be economically feasible. However, on the other hand, this proposal can create a virtuous cycle for the solar industry in Brazil and speed up the viability of solar cell costs, since setting up and connecting the PV plants are greatly simplified when done in existing hydropower stations facilities.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 1, Pages undefined: A Sustainable Prototype for Renewable Energy: Optimized Prime-Power Generator Solar Array Replacement

nathan thomsen

Remote locations such as disaster relief camps, isolated arctic communities, and military forward operating bases are disconnected from traditional power grids forcing them to rely on diesel generators with a total installed capacity of 10,000 MW worldwide. The generators require a constant resupply of fuel, resulting in increased operating costs, negative environmental impacts, and challenging fuel logistics. To enhance remote site sustainability, planners can develop stand-alone photovoltaic-battery systems to replace existing prime power generators. This paper presents the development of a novel cost-performance model capable of optimizing solar array and Li-ion battery storage size by generating tradeoffs between minimizing initial system cost and maximizing power reliability. A case study for the replacement of an 800 kW generator, the US Air Force’s standard for prime power at deployed locations, was analyzed to demonstrate the model and its capabilities. A MATLAB model, simulating one year of solar data, was used to generate an optimized solution to minimize initial cost while providing over 99% reliability. Replacing a single diesel generator would result in a savings of 1.9 million liters of fuel, eliminating 100 fuel tanker truck deliveries annually. The distinctive capabilities of this model enable designers to enhance environmental, economic, and operational sustainability of remote locations by creating energy self-sufficient sites, which can operate indefinitely without the need for resupply.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2019, Volume 4, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Place of Electrophoretic Deposition among Thin-Film Methods Adapted to the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology: A Short Review

elena yu. pikalova

Thin film technologies have attracted ever-growing interest in different industrial areas. Concerning solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), especially devices operating in the intermediate temperature range, such technologies are applied particularly for the deposition of dense, gas-tight electrolyte films with a thickness of several µm to decrease ohmic resistance and enhance the cell performance. The main requirements for the technology selected are its low cost, simplicity of the equipment used, short deposition time and flexibility regarding the cell shape. First, we overview thin-film technologies adapted to the deposition of SOFC functional layers, discussing their strengths and weaknesses, with special attention given to electrophoretic deposition (EPD) as being the most simple and cost-effective colloidal method to fabricate different electrolyte films. Then we present the contribution of our scientific group in the development of the EPD method. The preparation of stable suspensions for the EDP is one of the key requirements for its successful implementation and reproducibility; this was considered in detail and the effect of self-stabilization in suspensions based on nanopowders (7–15 nm), obtained by the method of laser evaporation with consequent condensation, was discussed. Such suspensions, exhibiting high positive ζ-potential values (30–50 mV), were shown to be suitable for EPD without the addition of dispersants or iodine. The requirements for the electrode substrates were formulated and a model of particle aggregation near the porous substrate surface was proposed. Deposition parameters were established for different electrolyte films – commonly used yttria-stabilized zirconia, single and multiply doped CeO₂ and proton-conducting doped BaCeO₃ electrolytes. As was shown, the deposition on the highly conducting cathode substrates is simpler to implement than the EPD on non-conducting anode substrates and, in addition, it produces high quality films which render high OCV values and superior SOFC performance.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Regional Goods Delivery: How to Reduce Its CO₂-, NOₓ- and PM₁₀- Emissions?

jaap m. vleugel

Regional goods delivery fulfils an essential socio-economic function, in particular, in dense urbanized areas in countries like the netherlands. shippers (producers or traders), transport service providers, businesses and private households favour road transport, because of logistic and financial reasons. Delivery and pick-up vehicles are mainly powered by internal combustion engines (ice). Ice is a major source of ambient air pollution by NO_x and PM₁₀ and of global warming (CO₂). More recent and well-maintained engines have much lower emissions of noX and PM₁₀ than older and less well maintained ones, but their CO₂-emission has not been reduced as much. with (local) freight transport growing exponentially, these emissions are likely to rise. The aim of the paper is to estimate how a combination of logistic, technical and policy choices may reduce emissions of CO₂, NO_X and PM₁₀. The authors follow an integrative, interdisciplinary approach, because the past has taught that alignment of decisions by companies and government is inevitable to effectively deal with the root causes of these emissions. The main research question is as follows: what is needed to reduce the key emissions by regional goods delivery? This was addressed by literature analysis and micro simulation. The latter was used to compare the emissions of diesel, CNG and electricity to power trucks and truck-vans combinations in a region to inner-city delivery scenario. CNG is currently the better option in terms of emissions for the whole trip, largely because of the dutch grey electric power mix. Replacing the city leg of the trip by vans leads to more emissions, more vehicles, higher parking needs and logistic complexity. full electric trucks and vans cut out the local air pollution, which is beneficial, but not the emissions by power plants. a green(er) electric power mix is necessary to go to zero emission regional goods delivery.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Model for a Sustainable Energy Transition in Spain. Case Study in a District of the Basque Country

juan ángel balbás

The current energy model available in Spain is obsolete due to various circumstances, some techno- logical, others social, economic or environmental. This supposes a tension in the economic and social model of the country. Changing the current energy model to an alternative one requires a period of transition. This transition, in turn, requires a planned action and implies the identification of available energy in the vicinity, the awareness and commitment of citizens, the mobilization of technical, technological and economic resources and the design of a generation model and Proximity distribution, efficient. In this new model, compliance with environmental commitments (reduction of GHG emissions) together with the generation of economic activity and the guarantee that the transition will not give rise to any uncertainty regarding the availability and security of supply, must be unquestionable commitments. This document summarizes a research carried out in the Basque Country (Spain), which aims to promote the change of energy model. It presents the different phases of the study carried out, the methodology used, the conclusions, the road map of the transition process, the legislative situation in Spain and some reflections on the research carried out and the results obtained. Also, the study has analyzed the model of energy transition made by five European countries, studying their particulari- ties and the factors that have contributed to the transition and the change of the energy model in them. Models of good practices in Spain have also been studied.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Physical Model and Design Rules for the Optimization of Solar Chimney Systems

udo dietrich

Natural ventilation is a basic quantity to reach comfort in passively acting buildings. It delivers not only fresh air to breath but can also be used to temper the room if the indoor temperature is above the outdoor one. Driving forces are temperature differences (buoyancy) and wind. However, both may be weak in hot and especially humid locations.

A solar chimney uses solar radiation to heat up the exhausted air and to increase buoyancy, thus could help to improve that situation at least during the daytime. Nevertheless, the implementation of solar chimneys is quite rare. It may be that the idea to use heat to cool and ventilate a building seems strange. The literature reports about the potential of solar chimneys, characteristics like volume flow and temperatures are measured or simulated. Though, the findings of these publications are based on a special geometry and provide not enough detailed information about the optimized shape (width, height, length, etc.) of solar chimneys. To overcome that situation, this paper presents general design rules for the geometry of solar chimney systems that could be adapted to existing or newly erected buildings. A solar chimney system is assumed as composed by three components: An absorber as the main part to reach a higher temperature, a stack extension on top for further acceleration of the exhausted air, and a stack at the bottom connected to the (lower) storeys that should be ventilated.

A full set of equations of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics is presented and describes the physical behaviour of the air in the system. These equations are coupled with each other and can be solved in iterations, also with a simple spreadsheet. As a compromise between accuracy in results and complexity of the simulation method, the physical model is based on some simplifying assumptions like turbulent flow, friction on walls, air as an incompressible medium, and immediate heat transfer from the absorber to the air. Nevertheless, the outcomes are in accordance with the findings from the literature, as the model seems to reflect the physical behaviour adequately. The main results are volume flow, velocity and temperature, allowing the optimization of the geometry of the chimney system. An applicable list of design rules for solar chimneys is finally presented as well as proposals for their integration in typical apartment buildings in hot and humid locations.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Environmental and Managerial Advantages of Treatment Plants Exploiting Biogas from Food Waste

marco schiavon

The sector of biomethane production is receiving growing consideration in Europe, as an evolution of the conventional exploitation of biogas in combined heat and power (CHP) generators. From the technical point of view, a common need is to have available tools and calculations suitable for analysing the environmental advantages of this approach. The present paper compares the emissions of air pollutants related to three options for biogas valorisation from waste anaerobic digestion (AD) plants equipped with a post-composting stage: (1) CHP generation and electric energy supply to an electricity distribution network, and biomethane production through (2) pressurised water scrubbing and (3) chemical absorption. In the last two cases, biomethane is considered useful for natural-gas buses for the public. The results demonstrate that option (1) produces a lower amount of global pollutants but a higher amount of local contaminants compared to options (2) and (3). Therefore, decision makers should consider what impacts are more important for the specific context in which an AD and post-composting plant will be located. In addition, this paper estimates the benefits in terms of energy balance and surface occupancy when a conventional composting plant is converted into an AD and post-composting process.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Improving the Efficiency of Using Small-Distributed Generation Systems Through Mechanisms of Demand Management for Electricity and Gas

igor baev

The article is devoted to the development of a model and a set of methods for improving the efficiency of using small-distributed generation systems. The basis of the developed model is the integration of methods of price-dependent demand management for electricity and natural gas with a system of small-distributed power generation. The developed management model allows electricity consumers to reduce the cost of purchasing energy resources in comparison with the cost of electricity supplied from energy companies, based on the analysis of price indicators for the supply of electricity from regional energy markets and the terms of natural gas supply. The article presents the results of the pricing principles analysis for all components of the electricity and natural gas cost. The possibility of complex price-dependent demand management for the consumption of electric power is demonstrated through the management of electricity generation schedules by a small-generation system and schedules of gas consumption spent on electricity generation by a system of small-distributed generation. The complex of methods of price-dependent power consumption developed by the authors, taking into account the use of the system of small-distributed generation, can be adapted to the use by various types of electricity consumers that purchase electricity in the energy markets of various countries of the world.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Further Studies on the Transient Stability of Synchronous-Synchronous Rotary Frequency Converter Fed Railways with Low-Frequency AC High-Voltage Transmission

lars abrahamsson

This paper continues the pursuit of getting a deeper understanding regarding the transient stability of low-frequency AC railway power systems operated at 16 2/3 Hz that are synchronously connected to the public grid. Here, the focus is set on such grids with a low-frequency AC high-voltage transmission line subject to a fault. The study here is limited to railways being fed by different distributions of Rotary Frequency Converter (RFC) types. Both auto transformer (AT) and booster transformer (BT) catenaries are considered. No mixed model conﬁgurations in the converter stations (CSs) are considered in this study. Therefore, only interactions between RFCs in different CSs and between RFCs, the fault, and the load can take place in this study. The RFC dynamic models are essentially two Anderson-Fouad models of synchronous machines coupled mechanically by their rotors being connected to the same mechani- cal shaft. Besides the new cases studied, also a new voltage-dependent active power load model is presented and used in this study.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Promoting Zero Emissions Buses Programs: A Study of Ekaterinburg Residents’ Willingness to Pay

gabriel pedrosa

Transports are among the major sources of atmospheric pollution, causing climate change and public health damage. Public transportation is a well-known, recognized solution to greatly decrease transport emissions, especially when making use of zero emissions buses in the fleet, such as buses driven by batteries or by hydrogen. However, cost imposes a large barrier on zero emissions buses. The transition to the use of such buses is expensive, and it must be driven by several stakeholders, thus motivating service providers to make efforts towards zero emissions buses implementation strategies. In this study, citizens from a Russian district capital city were questioned on their potential role as contributors to the zero emissions buses transition, by studying their willingness and attitudes to pay a premium for the bus fares, in order to supplement the public transport agencies revenues. It was found that environmental concern and air pollution concern can be critical factors driving consumers into paying premium, but not noise pollution. Based on this study, there are several recommendations proposed for practitioners, as well as several future research avenues. In this article we seek to investigate how the consumers’ attitudes and concerns over the environment and city pollution could influence their willingness to play a role as supporters of the introduction of zero emissions buses in the public transportation fleet, since understanding the consumer attitudes is essential to perform and run an efficient public system.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 3, Pages undefined: The Behavior of Single-Shaft Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Units at Frequency Drop in the Connected Grid

viktor silbermann

In the last 15 years many companies have developed single-shaft combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) units having one generator, which is coupled to common single shaft of gas turbine (GT) and steam turbine (ST) via a special elaborated synchro-self-shifting (SSS) clutch. This clutch connects automati- cally the drive of the ST at one end of the generator to complement the drive of the GT at the other end of the generator. Such a technical solution, in comparison to previous ones, allows economizing on one generator circuit breaker (GCB) as well as the use of a two-winding transformer instead of a three-winding transformer. This scheme of single-shaft CCGT units is taking place in many coun- tries, but cases of tripping of such units by surge protection of GT have been observed in any power plants (PP). All such trippings were accompanied by frequency drop in the high voltage (HV) grid, to which these units were connected, although these drops were within the permissible limits for the CCGT units. This paper reports the results of investigating one of these cases of tripping, discusses the possible cause of these incidents and elaborates on some measures to prevent such trippings in the future.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Supporting Renewable Energy Development Through International Synergies: Obstacles And Opportunities In The Chinese Context

steven geroe

This paper examines opportunities and obstacles to Chinese and international renewable energy development through international synergies. Firstly, international involvement in the consultative drafting process of Chinese renewable energy regulation is considered, based on interviews in Chinese institutions involved in this process. This evidence establishes that widespread institutional synergies have been established between Chinese and international renewable energy institutions, forming the basis for cooperation in regulatory development, technological research and development and joint renewable energy projects. The research interviews are then situated in the context of recent scholarly research on international investment synergies in China, focusing on licensing agreements, joint development, and mergers and acquisitions, in ‘learning hubs’ of concentrated renewable energy research and development and large-scale commercialisation. Obstacles are considered primarily in terms of non-tariff barriers and government procurement policies and practice. These measures have been a significant factor in China achieving its stated objective of substantial self-reliance in renewable energy production. While there is widespread and continuing evidence of international institutional and investment synergies, this has not impeded the Chinese government’s planned dominance of the domestic market by Chinese firms. Nonetheless, innovative technology is needed to advance China’s strategy of low- carbon economic modernisation, such as smart grids, offshore wind and advanced thin film materials. While these may currently be specialised or niche areas, the scale of Chinese low-carbon development presents substantial investment opportunities. The evidence presented in this paper of synergies between Chinese and international renewable energy institutions, and of investment synergies in international learning hubs in China, indicates that there is a functional basis for foreign invested enterprises to participate in these opportunities.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 3, Pages undefined: A Cogeneration Power plant to Integrate Cold Ironing and District Heating and Cooling

federico esposito

As in almost all the major maritime cities, Ancona harbour is very close to the urban area and hosts a multi-purpose port harbouring cruise boats, passenger ferries, commercial liners, and fishing boats. All the ships emit rather high amounts of airborne pollutants including PM10, a toxic mixture of low-diameter solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air. A consistent part of the airborne pollutants is due to the vessels’ ‘hotelling’, i.e. their staying within the port. A significant reduction of pollutants emitted by ship engines during their hotelling in harbours can be achieved by applying a ground electrification of the docks to provide the electricity usually produced by the polluting engines of the ships. To check the technical and economic viability of such a technology we have designed a Trigeneration power plant (i.e. a CCHP or Combined Cooling, Heat and Power plant) to be located within Ancona Port. The CCHP plant would be able to provide most of the electricity required during the hoteling of bigger cruisers and ferries and the district heating and/or cooling of most of the buildings nearby. The plant was optimized to achieve the best energy performance by reducing the waste heat/ cool and by tuning the electrical loads to those of ships.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Design and Installation of High Voltage Cables at Sea

louise våbenø

Underwater telecommunication cables have been connecting continents since the 1860s. These days large electric power cables are connecting countries to ensure optimization of energy use. When the production of energy from renewable resources, like wind and solar, are low, energy from other sources may be imported and vice versa. At the moment a cable is planned between Norway (for hydropower) and Scotland (for wind power). Furthermore, large electric power cables are needed offshore to bring electricity from offshore wind turbines to shore and cables are required to bring onshore generated electricity to offshore oil and gas platforms to reduce pollution. Over time, the process of laying cables at sea has developed into a state-of-the-art operation. Now these operations are becoming more technologically advanced and it is possible to lay large diameter electric cables over large distances. A particular challenge occurs in case an unplanned splicing/ jointing will be necessary. In this paper, we explore the design criteria for such cables and the procedures and challenges of installation and splicing. Furthermore, the effects of how dynamic motions of the vessel and sea influence the situation in deep water are explored. We have analysed the effects of waves on vessel motion, and how this may affect the cable during a jointing operation of two cable ends at different water depths. The effects of current forces on the cable are also analysed and how the cable reacts to both current and wave forces. This analysis method can assist in determining the weather criteria for a jointing operation to prevent excessive bending, compression or fatigue damage in the cable. One finding in the analysis is that there are different requirements for laying the cable and the jointing operations. The suitable sea states for jointing are more limited than for laying. When the vessel and the cable are standing still, all bending occurs at the same place in the cable, resulting in increased risk of fatigue damage, hence it is necessary with a calmer sea state for this kind of operation. The examples referred to in the paper are based on realistic assumptions; a summary of these assumptions is included. Furthermore, a HAZID, carried out for cable installation, shows that there are several risks and hazardous events that may occur during the installation operation in connection to the cables integrity. Identifying and handling these risks early may reduce both their probability of occurring and the related consequences.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Assessing the Integration and Automation of Energy Systems in Nigeria

adeshina s. olagoke

Development of a country is totally based on the availability of sustainable electrical power. Due to epileptic power supply in Nigeria, generation, transmission, distribution, and usage of energy are to be optimized for proper conservation of energy. Nigerian electricity is mainly generated from different sources like hydro power plants, thermal power plants, and gas generating plants. Presently, the epileptic power supply and longtime fault detection during distribution is a very serious problem. Also vandalism of transmission lines, gas pipe lines to generating stations and shortages are common in Nigerian electrical distribution systems. It is therefore paramount to implement a method for power distribution automation. This paper discusses ways to modernize the present systems using supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) for automatic control of distribution systems. However, Nigerian power systems use manual tap changer which increases and encourages power outage with less safety to the system. Therefore, this paper suggests automatic tap changer which maintains the voltage of the system and thus reduces manpower.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Visionary Scenarios for Planning of Energy-Efficient Buildings and Neighbourhoods

krzysztof klobut

Holistic approach is required to achieve energy-efficient design of buildings that are integrated to the neighbourhood energy systems. This paper presents selected phases of the design process in the form of visionary scenarios involving new technologies, numerical services and business models. Evaluation of potential impacts and the needed progress beyond the state of the art, as well as user requirements for the visionary stories are identified. As an example, visionary scenario for neighbourhood energy balancing in building design is presented in detail to demonstrate the usefulness of conducting energy analysis on a higher level, beyond a single building. The practical value of utilising the district energy analysis depends strongly on how the results are communicated to the relevant stakeholders and how they are utilised in the urban planning and related decision making. The district energy analyses, when performed iteratively during the progressing planning process, reveal to urban planners the effects of their decision choices. They could also provide sufficient base information for the decision making about the land use and urban development on the city level. To account for future changes that affect the energy system but are not handled properly in today’s design process, an eadaptability concept is introduced.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Heavy-duty trucks and new engine technology: impact on fuel consumption, emissions and trip cost

frans bal

Road transport offers important logistic benefits at a reasonable cost for producers and consumers, hence its large market share. But, its use of diesel or gas generates large volumes of Co2, nox and pm10 (among others). Higher emission standards and demand for greener transport call for alternatives. literature analysis, a simulated Dutch-german road trip and a partial financial analysis are used to compare different engine-fuel combinations. Electricity from green sources removes these emissions. To stimulate full electric trucks (FET) several issues need to be addressed. First is creation of a large charging network. The netherlands is much further with this than germany. Affordability is another one. operating and investment costs should at least equal those of non-FET to have comparable total cost of ownership (TCo) over the lifetime of a truck. with FET, investment costs are now much higher, which should be compensated by lower operating costs. The actual operating costs depend on many factors, but fuel costs and trip time are likely to rise if en-route recharging is needed. A more in-depth financial analysis is needed for more exact conclusions. Another issue is technical. practice tests are needed to enhance the results of the simulation study. Hybrid diesel-electric and FET are already used in urban and regional transport. Regulation should also become tighter. Zero emission should become the norm. if these issues are successfully death with, then electric drive will become the mainstream technology. Technically, 2025 or 2030 seem feasible for large-scale production, which also lowers investment costs. with more electricity needed for transport, the supply of green electricity should grow strongly. Finally, the micro simulation is a modest example of the potential of the simulation model. modeling of other corridors is underway, using one truck or a fleet of FET.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Experimental envelopes and their integration in the building information modeling energy simulation process

rossella roversi

The present contribution deals with an ongoing italian research which includes several steps and it is approaching to its final stage. the main goal is analysing and testing the feasibility of municipal waste reuse for designing building envelopes for near zero Energy Buildings (nzEB), so as to contribute to the decreasing demand for energy and improve eco-friendly waste management in urban areas. first, prefab building components have been designed using selected waste and their thermal and acoustic behaviours have been calculated, according to the European rules; then the economic costs of the obtained building envelopes have been assessed and compared to common building structures to verify their possible appeal on the italian market, and finally the components have been assembled in the project for a small nzEB building: a didactic classroom for the mira porte primary school (venice, italy).

This paper refers to the in-depth elaboration of the project, mainly concerning fire and pollut- ant protection, and it focuses on the reliability check of the Building information modeling (Bim) parametric model, especially as concerns non-conventional materials and components. the relative building energy behaviour has been obtained exporting the Bim energy simulation model using the Ec770 integrated design for revit plug-in. finally, a comparison between the results obtained with the traditional energy assessment (according to d.m. 26/06/2015) and those using the Bim model has been made to evaluate the interoperability between architectural modeling software and the energy simulation one.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Multi-criteria analysis of fuzzy symptoms of electrical faults in power systems

vadim manusov

The paper considers a possible method of technical diagnostics of electrical equipment of power supply systems and electrical substations based on the fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic. it is shown that, based on the matrix of fuzzy relationships, one can make a plausible enough prediction about possible malfunctions and causes of failures. the prerequisites for this analysis are the current condition (state) of the electrical equipment and expert assessments of diagnostic signs. the paper shows the comparison made using the features scale of saaty, in accordance with nine degrees of preference.

At the core of fuzzy expert assessments is an attempt to formalize linguistic information, namely linguistic variables whose meanings can be words or phrases. the paper presents a complete range of preconditioned defects consisting of m factors and their corresponding space conclusions as to the causes of these malfunctions (defects) of n symptoms. fuzzy causal relations in the space of underlying factors are established between the assumptions and conclusions of the experts. the resulting system of equations is solved by the method based on the composition of fuzzy conclusions. possible failures are ranked according to the experts’ preference, which reveals the most significant symptoms of malfunctioning and allows arriving at the conclusion as to the future operation of the facility. the validity of the provisions of the method presented is confirmed by appropriate calculations, which demonstrates the correct behavior of the model concerning the transformer equipment.

It is shown that in case of the fuzzy symptoms occurrence and evaluation of these features by a scale of preferences, it is possible to conclude about the further operation of electrical equipment or its withdrawal for repair. thus, the mathematical model based on the fuzzy relations of symptoms selected using the experts’ estimations contains elements of predicting the possible failures of power systems electrical equipment.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Waste-to-energy options within a circular economy strategy in a developing country: the case of the Bio Bio region in Chile

patricia gonzález

In Chile, during the last 40 years the municipal solid waste (msW) generation rate has shown a 4-fold increase due to population growth, fast urbanization and improved material standards. as in most developing countries, this trend is expected to continue as economic policies foster greater industrial investment and increases in domestic consumption.

Currently, msW are landfilled near ever expanding urban areas, leading to growing public concerns, and prompting new control legislation. up-to-date msW management practises are being promoted in order to maximise waste valorisation, including recycling, and waste-to-energy, within a circular economy strategy. However, new resource consumption, waste streams, air emissions and effluents may arise when changing from a linear to a circular economy model. Therefore, environmental performance of alternative scenarios must take into consideration the complete life cycle to avoid problem shifting. Within this context, this paper presents a case study of three alternative waste-to energy scenarios, as part of a circular economy strategy, involving combustion, gasification, and landfill biogas, at the Bio Bio region in southern Chile. This is an industrial region housing over 2 million inhabitants and generating more than one million tonnes of msW per year. The study assesses waste-to energy alternatives considering an integrated waste management life cycle approach. Boundaries include waste collection, transport, pre-treatment processes, by-products generation, and heat/power production. msW transport, recycling rates, chemical compositions, and calorific values, were obtained from primary sources, whereas energy conversion efficiencies and other data gaps were estimated from the ecoinvent database. results provide a complete view of the environmental performance of each alternative scenario, including potential climate change effects and other environmental impacts, and also the positive contributions of material and energy recovery. This work illustrates the value of life cycle assessment in the context of decision making concerning circular economy scenarios.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages undefined: New energy delivery models for communities:how utilities can transform their delivery models to meet the needs of their stakeholders, short and long term

robert j. sarfi

Society has done little to modernize energy delivery or take advantage of proven, commonly available technology. in the past, change was driven by regulated entities with an exclusive franchise. today, however, disruptors come from outside of the power sector – a phenomenon that is changing the grid. the grid of the future will provide an open platform, similar to a state-owned interstate that allows access to all. generation, storage, and load elements will be self-registering building blocks, similar to the concept of all ‘lego’ sets being compatible. elements will be connected by providers or even consumers, they will self-register, and interact with each other optimizing grid performance with respect to economics, efficiency, adequacy, and reliability. the ubiquitous grid will encompass not only electric, gas, and water, but other services that either we’ve already come to rely upon or haven’t even considered yet. is this farewell to the grid as we know it? the exclusive franchise model that has been around for more than a century might not be as long lived as expected.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil selecting a solid catalyst derived from activated coconut coir

pushpa jha

In the quest for cost-effective production of biodiesel, selection of cheap feedstocks and catalysts play the significant role. Waste cooking oil is abundantly available from all types of restaurants throughout the world. Catalyst selected for this feedstock should be heterogeneous. Coconut coir, which is bio- mass and source of carbon, was selected for its study as a catalyst for biodiesel production. This paper is based on a comparison of a solid catalyst by two processes: (i) sulphonation of coconut coir char (pyrolysed at 500°C for 3 hours) and (ii) digestion of pyrolysed coconut coir with 10% NaOH at 70°C for 4 hours followed by sulphonation. Comparison of both the solid catalysts thus prepared was done based on their physical properties, total acid density, SEM and FT-IR analysis. The higher percentage of fixed carbon content, higher acid density and BET surface area, better morphological surface and pronounced presence of sulphonic (-SO3H), carboxylic (-COOH) and hydroxyl (-OH) groups favours the selection of catalyst prepared by the second method for further study for biodiesel formation using waste cooking oil as the feedstock. Effects of various parameters on biodiesel production: alcohol to oil ratio (A:O), time of reaction, reaction temperature and catalyst loading were studied. At the optimised conditions, the biodiesel conversion was 90.12%. Biodiesel produced by the method was characterised regarding fuel properties and were found close with the standard values.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages undefined: The effect of solar energy on the environmental profile of electricity generation in Chile: a midterm scenario

mabel i. vega

The Atacama Desert in Northern Chile features the highest solar radiation on continental soil worldwide, ranging within 2,500–3,400 kWh/m2/year, with UV-B radiation levels 65% above average European. This desert covers an extension over 105,000 km2 receiving more than 4,000 hours of sunshine yearly, and hosts large reserves of copper, lithium, molybdenum and other metallic and non-metallic minerals. Thus, the Chilean mining industry accounts for more than 30% of the total electricity consumption in the country. During the last 3 years major investments on solar photovoltaic (PV) plants have taken place at the Atacama Desert, driven by the drastic drop in the cost of PV technology, and incentives provided by the new Energy 2050 Roadmap set by the Chilean government, with view to fostering the introduction of renewable energy sources in the electricity market. The Chilean electricity system is composed of two connected grids, namely the Greater Northern Network (SING) and the Central Network (SIC), with a total installed capacity of nearly 21 GW. The SING network is mostly composed of thermoelectric power plants, whereas the SIC network features a significant share of hydroelectric plants, leading to different carbon footprint, namely 0.9 and 0.3 ton CO2eq/MWh, at SING and SIC, respectively. At the end of 2017, those grids were connected to meet the current 80 TWh/year national demand. Massive introduction of PV electricity generation plants at the Atacama Desert is foreseen in the near future, to reach a projected share around 25% by 2050. Within this framework, this paper presents novel results on the effect of solar energy on the environmental profile of electricity in Chile in a midterm scenario, using a life cycle assessment approach, under conditions of drastic reductions in water availability due to climate change. Results show that PV systems make a significant contribution to environmental impacts associated to electricity generation in the national mix by 2050, mainly in ozone layer depletion, abiotic depletion, global warming, acidification, and photochemical oxidation potentials impact categories, mainly from upstream transport and cell manufacturing. The extent of those impacts could increase significantly if the PV lifespan decreases due to cells degradation as a result of harsh environmental conditions, highlighting the need for reliable data on this key parameter.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Applications of low enthalpy geothermal energy: the case of the faculty of physical and mathematical sciences at the university of Chile

claudia mac-lean — 12-31-2017

In recent decades, the industry has observed a significant shift towards the use of renewable energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal. The Chilean scenario has not been an exception, and much pro- gress has been made in sustainable energy prospection and implementation, especially in the electricity sector, where solar and wind power amount 2300 MW, and since April 2017, the first geothermal power plant (48 MW) has come into operation. In the area of low enthalpy geothermal energy, the use is around 19 MW.

The Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Chile has been contributing to this transformational process, with its Sustainable Campus initiative. The first step of this initiative is the introduction of renewable energy on site, which has been achieved through the installation of a solar photovoltaic plant of 15 kW. Along this line, the design and implementation of a geothermal air conditioning system (HAVC) is underway, which will serve the classrooms and offices in the tradi- tional engineering building of the campus. The technology to be used in this project is the Ground Heat Pump (GHP).

The present paper includes an introduction of the applications of low enthalpy geothermal energy in Chile, a description of the Office of Engineering for Sustainable Development at the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, and the design of a geothermal HAVC system in the university campus, considering economic, environmental, technical and social aspects. Besides the operation of the GHP, the system will be used for teaching purposes to incorporate sustainable development in the curriculum of the university. The expected savings of the geothermal system versus an aerothermal design are 41,070 kWh annually, considering both cooling and heating.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Dgnb Building Certification Companion: Sustainability Tool for Assessment, Planning, Learning, And Engaging (Staple)

renate skovgaard møller — 12-31-2017

In the construction industry, the popularity of sustainability and its benefits have been on the rise in recent years. Alas, with various building sustainability assessment schemes on the market, there is still no single general method for a comprehensive and inclusive design and building process for sustainable buildings. The literature describes several barriers of entry preventing actors in the industry from seeking sustainability certifications and prioritizing design methods, supporting sustainability in greater numbers. In the newly developed tool, “DGNB building certification companion: Sustainable Tool for Assessment, Planning, Learning, and Engaging (STAPLE)”, a new Excel-based, interactive, and iterative education focused platform is introduced, intended to engage dialog among stakeholders, building owners, and decision makers, and the assigned group team leaders, based on the five DGNB topics. In order to establish common levels of knowledge, terminology, and understanding for proper interdisciplinary discussions, which would result in suitable and timely decisions, personal and profes- sional development is enabled by imbedded educational documents in multiple formats throughout the tool as plain-language, easily digestible summaries of various topics regarding sustainability and the DGNB certification scheme. The identified barriers are described in the tool followed by a solution to overcome them. The tool, tested at multiple stages of development and moulded by many individuals both within and outside of the sustainable building industry, has shown to achieve the primary goals of assessment of individual’s current knowledge, educating through multiple stages and formats, and the inspiring of conversation among team members through a graphical display of opinions. Based on user feedback, the conclusion was that this is a desired product on the market. This new approach is expected to dramatically reduce misunderstandings, conflicts, and mistakes during a sustainable design process, helping the design team plan a project to possibly obtain the highest DGNB score if desired and properly documented.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Is Dry Reforming the Solution to Reduce Natural Gas Carbon Footprint?

bruna rego de vasconcelos — 12-31-2017

With the increasing world’s energy demand along with the constantly expanding field of natural gas exploitation around the world, dry reforming of methane has gained increasing attention. Through this technology, natural gas can be converted into syngas, which is a well-known building block used for the production of alcohols and fuels. This technology has become an interesting approach for the valorization of a variety of CO₂streams and for the reduction of the natural gas carbon footprint. In this work, attention will be given to the different reforming technologies used at industrial scale, followed by an investigation of the different approaches used for dry reforming of methane. Furthermore, focus will be given on how natural gas reforming could be used as a vehicle to store renewable energy while trying as well to reduce the carbon footprint of this technology. The technology presented in this work was previously developed by Hydro Québec and uses a cheap and available catalyst in addition to electricity to convert methane and carbon dioxide into syngas. Reactants conversions were up to 99% and the syngas produced had a H2/CO ratio of 1 for over 200h.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Pyrolysis Behaviors of Waste Coconut Shell and Husk Biomasses

q. wang — 12-31-2017

Coconut shell and husk are two biomasses wastes abundant in most of the coastal countries. However, despite their enormous potential as energy sources, they are hardly studied and their thermal characteristics are still not well known. In this study, both biomasses are thermally degraded through thermogravimetry (TG-DTA) and their pyrolysis product yield such as char, tar and gases are analyzed. The TG-DTA results show that pyrolysis of biomass consists of three stages. Three stages can be out- lined as: (1) dehydration process for temperatures below 122°C, (2) pyrolytic cracking from 122°C to 400°C, stage consist of two exothermic simultaneous processes where hemicelluloses, cellulose and lignin are decomposed and a high amount of volatile matter formation occurs and (3) the last endother- mic decomposition of the lignin at temperatures above 400°C. From the pyrolytic results, it is showed that the char and gases yields were increased with the decrement tar. The gas-evolving profiles from pyrolyzing the coconut shell and husk components in a packed bed, monitored by a GC-TCD and a GC-FID, showed similar behavior. H₂ was released out at a higher temperature (>450°C) and it got the maximum rate at 700°C then it decreased. CO₂ was released out at 130°C –750°C and got the maximum releasing value at 300°C –400°C. The released CO showed almost similar pattern with that of CO₂. However, the release rate was lower than CO₂ and the maximum release rate of CO was found at 300°C –400°C. CH4 was released out at the temperature between 200°C –850°C, and it got the maximum rate at 550°C. The releasing of hydrocarbon was generally very low.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Energy and Exergy Efficiencies of Different Configurations of the Ejector-Based CO$_2$ Refrigeration Systems

s. taslimitaleghani — 12-31-2017

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is an appropriate replacement for conventional refrigerants due to its low global warming effects. However, its application within a traditional refrigeration compression cycle leads to low thermodynamic performance due to the large expansion losses in a throttling process. The application of ejectors allows reducing these losses. Many scenarios of ejector-based cycles have been proposed. Among them four different configurations may be distinguished: an expansion work recovery cycle (EERC), a liquid recirculation cycle (LRC), an increasing compressor discharge pressure cycle (CDPC) and a vapor jet refrigeration cycle (VJRC). This study deals with the comparative analysis of these cycles. In order to study the performance of the cycles, the numerical simulations are developed using EES software. Two performance criteria, energy efficiency (COP) and exergy efficiency are evaluated for each cycle. The highest values of these criteria point to the most thermodynamically efficient cycle. The results show that the EERC has the highest COP and exergy efficiency compared to other cycles. For example, the COP of the EERC is 3.618 and the exergy efficiency is 9.68%. The COP (resp. exergy efficiency) is approximately 23.3% (resp. 23.3%), 24.9% (resp. 25.5%) and 5.6 times (resp. 56.2%) higher than the corresponding energy and exergy efficiencies of LRC, CDPC and VJRC. Moreover, in comparison with a basic throttling valve cycle, the COP and exergy efficiency in EERC are higher up to 23% and 24% correspondingly. The detailed exergy analysis of EERC cycle has pinpointed the equipment where the major exergy losses take place. The largest losses occur in the evaporator (about 33% of the total exergy destruction of the cycle) followed by the compressor (25.5%) and the ejector (24.4%).

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 1, Pages undefined: 3D Shape Optimisation of a Low-Pressure Turbine Stage

l. witanowski — 12-31-2017

The possibility of reducing the flow losses in low-pressure turbine stage has been investigated in an iterative process using a novel hybrid optimisation algorithm. Values of the maximised objective func- tion that is isentropic efficiency are found from 3D RANS computation of the flowpath geometry, which was being changed during the optimisation process. To secure the global flow conditions, the constraints have been imposed on the mass flow rate and reaction. Among the optimised parameters are stator and rotor twist angles, stator sweep and lean, both straight and compound. Blade profiles remained unchanged during the optimisation. A new hybrid stochastic-deterministic algorithm was used for the optimisation of the flowpath. In the proposed algorithm, the bat algorithm was combined with the direct search method of Nelder-Mead in order to refine the best obtained solution from the standard bat algorithm. The method was tested on a wide variety of well-known test functions. Also, the results of the optimisation of the other stochastic and deterministic methods were compared and discussed. The optimisation gives new 3D-stage designs with increased efficiency comparing to the original design.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Exploring the Integration of the Power to Gas Technologies and the Sustainable Transport

e. llera — 12-31-2017

The de-carbonization of the transport sector is a particularly complex challenge as greenhouse gases are delocalized and diffused. Therefore, the problem has to be tackled from the source of the emissions, and efforts in the scientific and technological field must seek out new energy vectors of high density, neutral in CO₂ and based on renewable energy that meet the sector demands and requisites. This could be the case of the synthetic natural gas which can be produced through the Power to Gas process (PtG). This process, originally developed by the German institutes ZSW and IWES, converts electricity into synthetic natural gas (SNG) via the methanation of CO₂ together with H₂ from water electrolysis. The energy content of the produced methane comes from the primary source for power generation (optimally renewable electricity) and it is possible to produce a CO₂ neutral fuel by capturing the carbon emissions from an existing source. In addition, the PtG process can be seen as a new concept of renewable energy and CO₂ hybrid storage. This paper identifies the possibilities that the Power to Gas technology offers for the production of sustainable methane and the existing potential for the symbiosis of industrial sectors through optimization of their waste streams of matter and energy. In particular power and transport sectors are considered and the outline of a small facility for the generation of synthetic natural gas from renewable electricity and its consumption in the vehicles of a road freight company is presented as a case study. Not only the technical feasibility but the economic viability of the process and the environmental improvements resulting from the use of a renewable fuel free of CO₂ emissions in terms of carbon footprint are evaluated.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Optimising Car Life for Minimum CO₂ Emission

harry c. watson — 11-29-2017

In this paper, the historical trends and future projections of whole of life CO₂ emissions is followed and includes the changing effects on embedded production energy as vehicles have been made lighter. Even so, the rapid reduction in fuel consumption of conventional vehicles leads to the ratio of embedded to in-use CO₂-e to have doubled in the last 30 years. This embedded energy sourced CO₂ recurs each time a new car is made, so the front end energy has to be amortised over the life of the vehicle. It is shown that the ratio is several times higher for battery electric vehicles, while hybrids fall between electric and conventional. The importance of vehicle useful life is emphasized. In the past, the optimum life to amortise the embedded energy was about 17 years but this depends on the prevailing rate of improvement in in-use energy of the marketed fleet. The paper concludes on the basis of the evidence presented that the optimum life for present conventional vehicles is between 10 and 12 years and for battery electric vehicles approaching 20 years with hybrids falling between. As the rate of annual fuel consumption improvement reduces from the present level of 5%/y, the desirable life-times of vehicles will increase. It is recommended that some form of government policy be implemented to achieve the changes in optimum vehicle life-time, over the next few decades, through support for ‘Cash for clunkers’ or equivalent mechanisms. This will enable the most rapid achievement of greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Incentives or other mechanisms need to be found to encourage hybrids rather than all electric vehicles to achieve best possible vehicle fleet CO₂ reduction.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Energy Comparison Between Different Parallel Hybrid Vehicles Architectures

d. lanzarotto — 11-29-2017

A great boom of hybrid vehicles has taken place on the automotive market in recent years, in particular, all these vehicles are now equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) thanks to the use of a planetary gear train and two electric motor-generators.

The benefit provided by this system is the possibility to optimally control the engine velocity from an energy standpoint; in addition, drive comfort is increased thanks to the continuously variable transmission.

However, this is obtained at the cost of some amount of electrical losses in the components necessary to realize the above-mentioned structure.

This paper aims to evaluate the overall efficiency of this particular power train on different road missions; the same missions will be simulated at the same time for an identical hybrid vehicle equipped with a conventional transmission system.

In order to perform an energy analysis of the two architectures, one has to accurately address the main components generating energy losses: it will be thus presented the set of equations from which the mathematical stationary model of the CVT was obtained and how the different electric components and the internal combustion engine were modeled.

In addition, a brief description on the CVT optimization logic will be reported, the validity of this process will be then confirmed by comparing the ICE working points deriving from it and those declared by Toyota.

Finally, the fuel economy values coming from various road simulations will be compared in order to determine if or which hybrid architecture proves to be the most efficient one.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Sustainable Management Model Based on Renewable Energies for the First Capital of the Californias, Loreto, Mexico

pedro-daniel molina-pfennig — 11-29-2017

The Mexican state of Baja California Sur has a high rate of population growth. It is also one of the states that are most vulnerable to climate change. Due to its location on the southern side of a roughly 900-mile long peninsula, and its natural separation from mainland Mexico, its power trans- mission networks are completely independent of the rest of the country. Thus, nearly all the energy used to generate electricity must be shipped to the state in the form of fossil fuels. The importation of energy supplies from the mainland results in higher costs for the state than in other areas of the country, causes greater environmental damage, and prevents a steady supply of energy to the state. This study’s objective is to propose a sustainable management model and to provide a reference to feasible sites available that could serve the Loreto region. An analytical model has been developed with multiple criteria and geographic information systems. This will allow for a wide range of spatial analysis of information covering the calculation of slopes, orientation, irradiation, infrastructure, etc. The municipal region of Loreto has roughly 288 square kilometres of land deemed suitable for the installation of solar plants. This area comprises 1.62% of the municipality. In 2016, the maximum electrical power demand for the entire state of Baja California Sur was 628 Megawatts per hour according to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). Loreto’s electrical capacity is currently 17MWh. Based on calculations that one photovoltaic plant located on two acres of land can produce one MWh, solar plants in the region could, theoretically, produce up to 14,403.35 MWh. Clearly, this potential capacity would be well above the demands of the municipality, which encompasses 3.8% of the state territory.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Efficient Energy Management System at Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait, a CASE Study

yousef e. al-qallaf — 11-29-2017

Effective energy management involves making decisions that lead to the conservation of energy and the efficient use of resources for sustainable future. Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), is involved in exploration, drilling and production of oil and gas. KOC is fully committed towards energy management, energy efficiency and greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions reduction, which may help in minimizing energy costs and mitigating environmental effects. In order to meet national and international standards ISO 50001 Energy Management System (EnMS), KOC undertaken a pilot study for developing an effective energy management program for KOC representative process units and main buildings. The objective of the program was to create an energy baseline and identify the potential improvement areas and provide inputs for the implementation of ISO50001 for certification. KOC has established the Energy Performance Indicators (EnPIs) for each of the process units and specific KPIs has been identified to monitor and control the energy performance. Furthermore, the study highlights the major achievements towards energy management, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions reduction in order to help in minimizing energy costs and mitigating environmental effects.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Solar Walls for High-Performance Buildings

borislav n. stankov — 11-29-2017

Passive solar design can reduce building energy demand for heating, cooling and ventilation, while also contributing to the comfort, well-being and productivity of the building’s occupants. The successful application of passive solar features, such as solar walls, requires a good understanding of the factors influencing their energy performance and a correct assessment of this performance during the design process. This paper discusses some basic design strategies for successful application of solar walls and the factors with the most significant impact on their efficiency. It summarizes the principle results and findings of an experimental study, based on dynamic simulations and test site measurements. The energy performance of various configurations of unvented solar walls was investigated in different climatic conditions. The outcomes of the dynamic simulations were used to develop a simplified quasi-steady-state model, which can be used for approximate evaluation of the heat gains and heat losses through an unvented solar wall on a monthly basis. The model is compatible with the monthly method of EN ISO 13790.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Wind Assessment for Micro Wind Turbines in an Urban Environment

simon van overeem — 11-29-2017

Wind flow in urban environments could be seen as a potential source of energy. This form of energy could be exploited by means of micro wind turbines placed along the existing infrastructures. To test this, an outdoor campaign was organised, which recorded the wind characteristics at different locations around a highway noise barrier in Delft, the Netherlands. The real-time data set was validated with a two-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics study. Both the influence of the high turbulence and the inflow angle on the positioning of the micro wind turbines are assessed for the case of perpendicular flow towards the plane of the noise barrier. Results indicated that integrating micro wind turbines with the noise barriers proves advantageous due to the flow velocity increment downstream. Lastly, a noise assessment was conducted in order to determine the optimal spacing between micro wind turbines, which impacts its social acceptance.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Smart Dual Thermal Network

víctor f. sánchez — 11-29-2017

Conventional district heating (DH) systems enable demand aggregation at district level and can provide high centralized heat generation performance values. However, thermal Renewable Energy Sources (RES) deployment at building level still remains low, and exploitation suboptimal, as it is limited by the instantaneous thermal load and storage capacity availability of each building. Buildings play the role of consumers that request a variable amount of heat over time and the thermal network the role of unidirectional heat supplier, without any smart interaction. The FP7 project A2PBEER has developed an innovative Smart Dual Thermal Network concept based on RES and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) as generation technologies, that enables transforming existing suboptimal DH systems, into integrated thermal networks with optimized performance and building level RES system production exploitation. It is based on an innovative Smart Dual Building Thermal Substation concept, which allows a bidirectional heat exchange of the buildings with the thermal network, and to aggregate district level distributed production and storage capacity (Virtual District Plant). With this approach buildings become prosumers maximizing decentralized RES production exploitation, as any possible local heat production surplus on any building of the district, will be delivered to the network to be used by other buildings. Additionally, this thermal network allows the delivery of the energy necessary to meet the heating and cooling demand of the buildings through a single hot water distribution network. In this way, it is possible to upgrade conventional DH systems to district heating and cooling systems, without the construction of a district cooling plant and a dedicated cooling distribution network. Cooling is produced at building level through sorption technologies using locally deployed solar collectors and the thermal network as energy sources. Finally, the district typologies and climatic conditions that maximize the potential of this thermal network concept have been identified.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Variation in Gas Chromatography (GC) Analysis in Setting Up Laboratory Protocols for Waste to Energy Novel Fixed Bed Reactor Setups

a. t. al-dhafeeri — 10-30-2017

Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) has been applied in various analytical chemistry works. However, to fine tune a system that can serve the purposes of pyrolysis oil identification has proven to be a laborious effort, especially when considering the fact that no standard protocol exists for such analysis. In addition, obtained products were yielded from a newly commissioned unit with a unique and novel design. In this study, a US patent office claimed reactor [SULTAN-1, Pyrolysis Reactor System for the Conversion and Analysis of Organic Solid Waste, Patent application number: 15,487,351] that degrades polyolefinc virgin and waste materials to obtain petroleum refinery and petrochemical feedstock, has been commissioned. The reactor produces three distinct physical states of matter products accumulated as testing specimens, i.e. solids, gaseous and oil. The samples analysed in this work were of the gas and oil produced by pyrolysis of end of life tyre (ELTs) shavings that required to have a special recipe to work with in the laboratory. Various MS cords were utilised and experimental setups to fine tune the process, and special emphasis was given on the gas samples variation in this communication. To reach the desired analysis results with high repeatability, a plethora of experiences of lab personnel and laboratory-based experimental work was accumulated. Laboratory protocols were also setup for this work. These will be detailed along the process execution which yielded a standard laboratory best practice analytical method as part of the State of Kuwait newly initiated Government Initiative project.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Research Experience from the Use of Different Additives in Wood-Fuel Pellet Production

magnus ståhl — 10-30-2017

The use of wood-fuel pellets has increased significantly worldwide in recent years, especially in the United Kingdom. If wood-fuel pellets should continue to be a successful biofuel at the energy market, the pellet production industry has to reduce the production cost, since it is a low-margin business. Further, improved pellets regarding storability and strength of the pellets are crucial to manage the overseas transportation that causes material losses. In addition, the industry tries to produce pellets from a broader raw material base and at the same time satisfy the customer requirements while producing a sustainable product. The wood-fuel pellet industry has the possibility to meet all these criteria; however, it also has the potential for improvements. Using additives in pellet production is one way to meet the criteria. In conclusion, it is necessary to do the research that systematically investigates the consequences of using additives for wood-fuel pellets, and this work presents a compilation of results and experiences from more than 20 different additive studies and the test bed for pellet production research at Karlstad University– a pellet production unit adapted for additives studies. Additives, with an admixture of up to 2% (wt.), have been tested in the NewDeP (New Development for Pellet Technology) pilot plant for pellet production at Karlstad University. The research has focused on the electricity consumption, the physical and mechanical properties of the pellets, and the CO₂ equivalents emitted during production. The results showed that the additives Wetland grass, Algae, Turpentine and Lignin decreased the electricity consumption in the pellet press but unfortunately also decreased the durability. The additives Resins, Molasses, White sugar, Native potato starch and Oxidized potato starch increased the durability of the pellet but showed almost no change in the electricity consumption. However, Oxidized corn starch, Spent sulphite liquor and Native wheat starch as additives increased the mechanical properties while it decreases both the electricity consumption and the climate impact, hence a Win-Win-Win situation.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 3, Pages undefined: University Student Perceptions of the Current and Future Role of Non-Carbon Emitting Energy Sources in the World

robert l. mahler — 10-30-2017

This article documents university student perceptions of the role and viability of non-carbon emitting energy sources in the short term (1 to 3 years) and medium term (10 to 30 years) for Earth. Consequently, the perceptions of 7,980 students at the University of Idaho (Moscow, ID, USA) about the future of geothermal energy (G), hydropower energy (H), nuclear power (NP), ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), solar energy (S) and wind energy (W) were measured between 1993 and 2016. All students were enrolled in the introductory environmental science class. Two survey instruments were used to gather this data. The first survey instrument evaluated six energy sources in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. The second instrument focused on questions about nuclear energy. In the first survey a significant portion of the students considered solar, wind and nuclear power to be viable non-emitting carbon energy sources in the medium-term (10 to 30 years) future. Also, students taking the survey in later years (2006, 2010, 2014) were much more likely to consider non-carbon energy sources viable in the near and mid-term than students taking the survey in 1994, 1998 and 2002. In general, 46.7% of students considered nuclear power a serious problem at the beginning of the course; however, at the end of the term less than 36% of students still held their initial negative opinion. In addition, a significant majority of the students changed from indicating that fossil fuels were preferable to nuclear energy, an opinion they held at the beginning of the course, to favoring or at least saying that nuclear power was no worse than fossil fuels at the conclusion of the term. The significant findings of this study were: (1) students considered both solar and wind energy viable alternatives that have the potential to be significant on a world-wide basis within 30 years; (2) students saw only a limited expansion of hydropower and geothermal energy in the next 30 years; and (3) once students were educated in an unbiased way – including both the pros and cons of using nuclear energy – they were more receptive to view the nuclear power option favorably.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Risk and Profitability Optimization of Investments in the Oil and Gas Industry

a. domnikov — 10-30-2017

Finding an optimum ratio of return and risk of investment projects is the key problem in overcoming the unfavorable conditions of oil prices and the reduction of profitability of the oil and gas industry. Search for investment opportunities associated with the potential willingness of oil companies to raise funds in new projects, leading to the need for improved tools maximize the return of investment activity in the conditions of uncertainty and risk. In the article the authors propose an original approach which allows solving the problem of formation of a portfolio of investment projects that achieve the maximum return on the risks assumed. The approach includes a method for determining the credit quality of the investment project on the basis of probability of default. This method is based on a comprehensive multivariate analysis of the investment project. Factors model aimed at the country and regional analysis, identification of foreign exchange, operational, technological and financial risks of the project and obtaining the integral evaluation of the project credit. The approach also includes economic capital modeling based on the MV-model (Merton-Vasicek-model), allowing achievement of the target level of creditworthiness of an oil and gas company in the long run. The proposed method of estimating project profitability is based on RAROC (risk-adjusted return on capital) methodology which enables calculation of profitability of projects based on their riskiness. The results can be used by management of oil and gas companies, investors and analysts in making financial decisions.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Decarbonising the Swedish Road Transport Sector

ann-charlotte mellquist — 10-30-2017

Road transport contributes to around one-fifth of the EU’s total CO₂ emissions and is the only major sector in the EU where greenhouse gas emissions are still rising. Swedish road transport causes 30% of all emissions. Addressing transport emissions is therefore crucial for meeting the Paris Agreement commitments on climate change.

The Swedish government aims to have a fossil-independent vehicle fleet by 2050; moreover, an emissions reduction target for the road transport sector of 80% (compared to 2010) by 2030 has been suggested. The government-initiated investigation ‘Fossilfrihet på väg’ sets out potential pathways, but a knowledge gap currently remains in regard to which path would be the most beneficial or least burdensome in terms of macroeconomic effects while still decarbonising the road transport sector.

This paper contributes to fill that knowledge gap by applying a vehicle stock modelling framework and a demand-driven global econometric model (E3ME) and by evaluating different technology pathways for Sweden to meet the 2030 and 2050 government targets. The stock model has been adjusted to be consistent with ‘Fossilfrihet på väg’ and uses technology deployment and cost estimates to model the Swedish vehicle stock emissions in three technology-driven scenarios.

The analysis shows that decarbonisation of transport can have positive impacts upon the Swedish economy, primarily through the replacement of imported fossil fuels with domestically produced electricity and biomass, while a further stimulus is provided by the construction of infrastructure to support electric vehicle recharging and fuel cell refuelling. Through quick action to encourage the deployment of new technologies and powertrains into the vehicle stock, plus policies aimed at promoting the domestic production of sustainable biomass, Sweden can maximise the potential gains from the decarbonisation process.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Key Performance Indicators of ‘Good Practices’ of Energy Efficiency in Industry: Application to Real Cases in Italy and in the European Union

realini anna — 10-30-2017

With the publication of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) in 2012, energy savings in the Industry processes have gained more and more importance in the European Union (EU). Industry (with building and transport) is one of the three main sectors where Energy consumption and efficiency play a fundamental role, to accomplish the EU energy objectives. Many countries in EU have already adopted schemes and mechanisms to implement the Directive: however deep differences of approaches still remain among the Member States (MSs), especially with respect to the identification of the real benefits of measures and to the assessment of their efficiency and sustainability. As a consequence, a huge amount of the efficiency potential still remains untapped. This paper proposes some criteria for the evaluation of the applied Energy Efficiency measures, leading to the identification of Good Practices of Energy Efficiency. These criteria are taken from the ‘real world’ of industry, and are susceptible to be replicated in other contexts (e.g. different sectors or other countries). The proposed criteria have been developed in the EU H2020 project EUMERCI (nr 693845) and through a national research (part of the ‘Ricerca di Sistema’ national funding system) both coordinated by RSE. The starting point is the harmonization of data sets related to projects developed in different EU countries within local efficiency implementation schemes. The second step is the definition of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) reflecting the impact of measures against Energy, Environment and Economic aspects. The last step is the extraction of efficiency ‘Good Practices’ ranked according to the identified KPIs and other factors, including social elements. The real added value of this approach is that it is full based on tangibly implemented projects, in opposition to similar attempts, essentially theoretical. Ultimately, it offers a key of assessment of the effectiveness of efficiency measures implementing local and EU policies.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Nuclear Power Can be the Answer

r. g. boothroyd — 10-30-2017

This paper reviews the development of fast molten salt nuclear reactors (MSRs) to close the nuclear fuel cycle by processing future and existing nuclear waste so that it can be returned safely to the environment. It follows two earlier papers outlining the overall use of a range of MSR types and an outline of future proposed marketing of a universal modular thermal MSR design for general purposes. It is suggested that the future MSR industry will probably evolve into three major competitive global corporations. The first one, serving the Far East, seems likely to become entirely MSR based, whereas the other two serving Europe/Western Russia and the Americas may use the alternative lead-cooled fast reactor for waste disposal, which is the closest competitor to the MSR system. Although construction of full-scale fast (MSR) reactors for closing the fuel cycle may not eventuate until some years into the future, it is concluded that this need not delay the introduction of the general purpose thermal MSR reactor envisaged earlier. This new nuclear technology is considered essential to maintain base-load electricity in a world where agricultural needs are expected to take precedence over space requirements for wind and solar farms. Using Thorium, in addition to Uranium, nuclear fuel is sufficient for the next 1000 years. Thus this energy resource can be considered pseudo-sustainable and give us the time to restore our world to a state of balance and true sustainability. Attention is also drawn to the present dangers of continuing to increase the storage of nuclear waste and the refurbishing of old-design nuclear plant, which are already 40 years old.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Different Models Used in Africa and Asia for off Grid Electrification and the Challenges Faced

lalitha mahalingam — 10-30-2017

This paper explores the different models used for rural electrification in developing countries. The unsuccessful projects and their causes of failure are analysed and some components of successful projects are also outlined. The analysis proves that there is more to just the technology aspect of the deployment and the socio economic and political factors play a major role in determining success of the programs. The two most successful models for the large scale dissemination of solar systems are this fee-for-service model and the micro-credit scheme.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Green Hospitals, Green Healthcare

pilar chías — 06-29-2017

Concepts related to ‘green health’ and ‘green hospitals’ are rapidly changing and varying their scopes towards wider perspectives. Environmental health considers the natural, built and social environments, implying a better understanding of the way they impact on health, and accepting that the built environment plays an important role in it. On the one hand, impacts of building design, construction, operation and management of hospitals on environment and health are currently accepted. On the other hand, hospitals are complex systems, where changes are neither fast nor easily performed. In order to achieve a green healthcare system, a deep knowledge of its strengths and weaknesses is needed, as well as of the internal dynamics. According to this target, our research focuses on the identification of opportunities for improving the existing health facilities according to the new concepts related to green hospitals. We deal with the study of various aspects as the site and its environment, better access, efficient management of resources (particularly water and energy), waste reduction, use of renewable and low emission materials, as well as all factors in design that can improve the users’ wellness. Some decisions must be taken at the early phases of planning, design, and construction, while other can be reached when hospitals are already operating. In addition, some decisions affect the buildings and their sites (the ecological footprint of the facility), while other extend to the neighbouring communities (districts, and municipal infrastructures and services) in order to diminish the risks, and to protect natural resources. Decisions can even affect wider ranges (as supplies and purchasing, for instance) and can help the efficient management while reducing the environment degradation. The proposed case study is University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias in Alcalá de Henares.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Cultural Impacts on Occupant Behaviour and Energy Efficiency

rebecca k. davidson — 06-29-2017

Canadian cultural and consumer trends have established high household energy consumption rates, as compared to other first world nations. This study examines the correlation between cultural influence, occupant behaviour, and the resulting effectiveness of optional or mandatory energy efficiency strategies in Canadian homes. Energy efficiency has historically been approached from a design and construction perspective; however, monitoring and verification during a post-occupancy period has gone largely undocumented. Given the lack of data, the effectiveness of any policy or standard towards sustainability is difficult to quantify. In two case studies, located in Calgary, AB (Canada), the impacts of housing typology, construction methodology and occupant behaviour were researched to collect post-occupancy energy use data. The results of the first case study demonstrate a +300% variation in consumption rates when comparing same unit type, location, construction and solar photovoltaic array. A second case study examines a home designed to be Net-Zero Energy (NZE), which is coupled with renewable technology and subsequently monitored post-occupancy, then compared to modelled/predicted loads. A third case, which strives to reduce both operational and embodied energy pre- and post-occupancy, is examined to illustrate the pre-occupancy energy required by various standard and alternative construction materials. This paper aims to provide context and validation of energy efficient design, construction, standards/codes, and in conjunction with occupant behaviour or cultural patterns of consumption. The results strive to identify which strategies may ultimately have more impact on national goals of energy efficiency and carbon reduction, and whether or not top down policy can be an effective way of managing energy use in households.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Window of Opportunity for Sustainable Energy

lazar gitelman — 06-29-2017

The article considers the ways of increasing the sustainability of the energy sector in an unstable environment and technology modernization that implies radical structural transformations in the configuration of energy systems. The authors show that power engineering should be given a special emphasis in this context because it is the most stable branch of the energy sector in terms of its vulnerability to crisis. The article suggests that the processes of electrification that further technological progress and increase the innovative potential of a region’s economy should be viewed as a driver forging a ‘smart partnership’ of power engineering and manufacturing. The authors analyze positive effects and price risks that emerge in the course of the implementation of electrification programs and use the analysis as a basis for their recommendations for developing regional electric power systems and effective relationships between utilities and consumers.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Temporal Trends of Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

naif albelwi — 06-29-2017

The consumption of material, energy, and water resources is inextricably linked to population growth with a unique impact on urban areas, especially in light of significant investments in infrastructure to support urban development. Urban metabolism is becoming popular as it provides a framework accounting the mass and energy flows through a city. An urban metabolism study was conducted to estimate the inputs and outputs of energy and pollutants from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study was to determine the energy consumption of Riyadh using locally generated data from 1986, 1996, 2006, and 2012 and analysing the temporal trends of energy consumption and associated environmental impact. The socioeconomic and biophysical characteristics of Riyadh are well represented in its metabolism indicators. The high growth rate in population along with urban expansion has resulted in an increase in energy consumption. Riyadh has seen an increase in energy consumption at a rate of about 6% per annum. On a per capita basis, preliminary results show that the energy consumption increased by 31% from 1996 to 2012. Also, per capita CO2 emissions have increased by the same percentage. Results also show increasing mobile energy consumption from 20k TJ in 1986 to 157k TJ in 2012, which points to Riyadh’s inefficient urban form. The study findings highlight the importance for developing effective policies for improving the use of resources.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Development and Preliminary Evaluation of PCM Thermal Energy Storage for Air Cooling in Buildings

p. pontelandolfo — 06-29-2017

This study presents the development of a real-scale latent heat thermal energy storage (TES) device based on an air-PCM (phase change material) heat exchanger. The device uses the outdoor ambient temperature difference between night and day to refresh the indoor air and shift or completely avoid the use of air-conditioning in air-cooling in the building sector. The design is based on an extensive set of numerical simulations, performed by the commercial software ANSYS Fluent, focused on a parametric study allowing to identify the optimum value of different design parameters in order to have 10 hours of temperature shift. The numerical simulations were supported by experimental measurements done with a small-scale test rig. Additionally, the thermal response of the PCM to cooling and heating was also studied in a controlled temperature and humidity environment.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Protocol for Assessing Energy Performance to Improve Comfort Conditions in Social Housing in a Spanish Southern City

teresa blázquez — 06-29-2017

construction process to meet H2020 requirements. Indeed, retrofitting current buildings is a major issue to be addressed. An analysis of the composition of the housing stock is needed to develop any sort of improving action in these buildings. New energy policies that may appear in the following years could benefit from detailed information of the current state of existing residential buildings.

The present paper is aimed to show a protocol to increase and implement the knowledge on social housing current state in southern Spain for further passive energy retrofitting interventions, which could allow for an improvement in indoor conditions too. To this aim, a top-down protocol is proposed to improve comfort conditions in social housing. A first phase corresponding to the creation of a GIS database is used to analyse social housing from an urban scale. Typologies and constructive characterization, energy assessment and a statistical approach is developed. This will allow for the acknowledgement of the most representative social dwellings in the city. A second phase, which corresponds to a dwelling scale, is thought to assess energy performance and the evolution of indoor environmental parameters in the previously selected dwellings, by in situ data measures and records, and the energy gradation of the dwellings by means of energy simulation software tools. This analysis will serve to propose integrated passive-energy solutions to retrofit thermal envelopes and to improve comfort conditions in social housing. The mentioned protocol is applied to the social housing stock that was built between 1950 and 1980 in Córdoba, a city from the south of Spain with Mediterranean weather conditions.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Byggae – Method for Quality Assurance of Energy Efficient Buildings

anna-lena lane — 06-29-2017

Policies for energy efficiency requirements in buildings have become more stringent according to EU2020 goals. Despite policy regulations, requirements for energy efficiency are not met in many new buildings. Some of the reasons for this energy performance gap are related to the building process. The aim with this paper is to describe a purposed method for quality assurance of sustainable buildings according to energy efficiency. The proposed method is called ByggaE, where ‘Bygga’ is the Swedish word for ‘build’ and E is the first letter in ‘energy efficient’. It is a tool intended to lower the energy performance gap related to the building process by guiding the client and providers through the process to fulfill goals. The essence of ByggaE is the formulation of requirements by the client and the working process of identifying, handling and following up critical constructions and key issues. This working process involves all participants in the building project by using appropriate quality guidelines and checklists for documentation, communication and verification. ByggaE is a step forward ensuring that the building fulfills the defined functions and that conscious decisions are taken when goals have to be changed during the building project. The next steps are to ensure the usefulness of the method in practice by more testing and to spread knowledge about the method.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Effect of Phase Angle on Tandem Flapping-Wing Power Generation

f. karakas — 12-31-2016

Two tandem wings undergoing two-dimensional sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal pitch and plunge motions are studied experimentally in a water channel at a chord-based Reynolds number of 10,000. The hindwing operates in the wake of the forewing, and its performance is affected by the vortices shed by the forewing in a tandem wing application. The vortex-wing and vortex-vortex interactions are affected by the changes in the phase angle between the fore and the hind wings. This study investigates how the changes in phase angle between the motions of the two wings play a role on the leading edge vortex (LEV) formations on the hindwing and the resulting effects on the power coefficient and the efficiency. The instantaneous lift and torque are measured by a force sensor; the velocity fields are captured by a digital particle image velocimetry (PIV) system. Sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal oscillations consisting of a pitch leading plunge motion with ϕ = 90° phase angle are used for the fore and hind wing motions. Different phase angles between the fore and hindwings are tested for the tandem configuration in the range of ψ = 0°–360° with an increment of 45°. The pitch pivot point to point distance of two chords was set between the fore and hindwings. It is found that the phase angle between the tandem foils determines the timing and the sign of the forewing-shed LEV when the hindwing encounters this LEV. Such an interaction affects the LEV formation, growth and shedding on the hindwing and results in a change in power generation performance of the hindwing. The results further show that at this specific distance between the wings, the maximum power coefficient and efficiency occur when the phase angle between the motions of the tandem wings is near ψ = 135° for the sinusoidal pitching and plunging.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Energy Increase by Use of a 2-Parameter Rule Curve for Hydropower Generation

horacio l. velasco — 12-31-2016

A new 2-Parameter Rule Curve (patent pending) for Hydropower Generation takes into account the current state of the system, represented by the beginning-of-month reservoir level, in the selection of the end-of-month Rule Curve level/storage. Thus, the two decision parameters are current time and reservoir level. The Rule Curve aims to preserve the firm energy, and to generate as much secondary energy as possible; and is based on the maximum monthly value of a composite parameter related to the variation of the potential energy stored in the reservoir, calculated for every month in the backward simulation that gives the Firm Energy Yield of the reservoir-power plant system. The Rule Curve levels are calculated to give the required end-of-month level for each month as a function of the beginning-of-month level, can be represented in tabular (matrix) and graphical forms, and can be used alone or combined with the Rule Curve proposed by the USACE (1985 and 1989), whose only parameter is current time. The use of this new 2-Parameter Rule Curve for single reservoirs can increase the annual average/secondary energy output without reducing the firm energy, as tested by the simulation of several hydropower developments; the results show an increase of average/secondary energy when compared with the USACE Rule Curve. Energy increase depends on net head variability, regulating capacity of the reservoir and power-plant-rated capacity. A 50-year simulation of Grand Coulee Dam gives an average energy output of 22.6 TW-h/year year with the 2 -Parameter Rule Curve, and 20.9 TW-h/year with the USACE Rule Curve. The increase in average/secondary energy is 1.7 TW-h/yearr, due only to the change of the Rule Curve. Data published by the USBR indicates an average output of 21 TW-h/year for Grand Coulee Dam, which confirms the simulated results.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Assessment of Environmental Impact from Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Sources

m. ragazzi

The scientific studies show that the greatest amount of CO2 emissions, in the European Union, results from the production of electricity and heat (for example, the production of coal-based energy in the EU Member States generates an amount of approximately one billion tons of CO2 emissions, that is about

1/4 of total CO2 emissions in the EU). The waste sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas

(GHG) emissions accountable for approximately one twentieth of the global greenhouse budget. This

contribution consists of CH4 emission from waste anaerobic decomposition and CO2 from thermal treatments. This study presents some district heating preliminary considerations through thermo-chem- ical conversion of renewable and non-renewable sources. Three locations are virtually analyzed, two

counties from Romania and one from Italy. A comparison is made between using different potential types of fuel: wood, coal, MSW, residual municipal solid waste (RMSW), bio-dried waste (BD) and solid-recovered fuel (SRF). The lower heating values (LHVs) of the two types of studied lignite (coal from Romania and Italy) are higher in comparison with the LHV of MSW, similar to the ones of RMSW and BD waste, but lower to the ones of SRF and wood, with some exceptions. Data suitable for preliminary global environmental balances and local impact considerations from atmospheric emis- sions were carried out for the quantity of primary fuel as presented. Results demonstrate that, even from the preliminary considerations, the environmental performances of district heating are strongly affected by the choice of the fuel.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Stepwise Analysis of Gasification Reactions with Aspen Plus and CPFD

m.s. eikeland

The energy from biomass can be utilized through the thermochemical conversion processes of pyrolysis and gasification. Biomass such as wood chips is heated in a gasification reactor to produce a synthesis gas containing CO, H2 and CH4. The gas can be further processed to bioproducts or fuels. The thermo-

chemical process involves devolatilization of wood followed by steam gasification, CO2 gasification,

methanation, water gas shift reactions and methane reforming. To optimize the performance of the

reactor, it is important to study each of the reactions separately.

The reactions are simulated individually using the chemical process optimization software Aspen Plus. The results are compared with simulations performed with the Computational Particle Fluid Dynamic (CPFD) software Barracuda VR 15. The CPFD methodology solves the fluid and particle equations in three dimensions with the transient flow and is time-consuming. Aspen Plus is one dimen- sional and solves the included reactions fast.

The results of the Aspen Plus and CPFD simulations, given as product gas compositions (CO, CO2, CH4 and H2), show that each reaction contributes to the product gas composition differently. Com- parison between Aspen Plus and CPFD simulations of individual gasification reactions show good

agreement. However, when all reactions are included in the simulations, there is a deviation in the volume fraction of product gas composition.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Analysis of Characteristics of a 5 kw Power Plant based on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells in Four Modes

j. volkova

The paper presents the results of testing a 5 kW power plant based on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) with natural gas serving as fuel, equipped with a steam reformer combined with a burner. It includes a diagram of the power plant and a result analysis procedure based on heat and mass balances elaborated for the reformer, SOFC stack, catalytic burner and heat exchanger. The experimental findings were used to calculate the actual ratios of fuel utilization, oxygen consumption from cathode air in the elec- trochemical generator using two methods (heat and energy balances and Faraday’s law). A comparison of the results of the two methods revealed a small error, which was observed mainly in the second mode (60%).

Parameters of the power plant by ‘UIC’ LLC were reviewed at four steady running modes: 40% of SOFC’s power utilization (2 kW), 60% (3 kW), 90% (4.5 kW) and at the peak mode of 110% (5.4 kW), where the consumption exceeds the rated power by 10%.

Calculation of the equilibrium composition of conversion products, at temperatures (t3) reg- istered at the reformer’s outlet, allowed the formula for the natural gas reforming reaction to be obtained.

A simplified method of calculating the composition of the natural gas steam reforming products is described; the results are compared with calculations made in the program Gaseq, using the software package Mathcad for the solution of nonlinear equations.

Analysis of the results showed the effectiveness of a simplified method at temperatures above 800°C; in that temperature range, this method has an error of less than 0.5%, which is sufficient for using in practice.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Design and Optimization of PV/Diesel Hybrid Power System in A Hotel

y. garcia

Electric power is a necessity for the development of a society, without it would be impossible to see the world as we actually know. Its use is closely related to modern life and human development. Renewable energy is a good alternative for energy supply in regions where conventional power networks are absent or service quality is intermittent. The importance of these renewable energy sources lies in their lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) to atmosphere and the reduced dependency on raw materials for importation and transport for power generation. Renewable energy is becoming economically competi- tive in the short to medium term. Hybrid power systems is a novel approach recently gaining popularity, since they combine multiple sources of renewable energy such as solar, wind, mini hydro-power, and also could include conventional generators as support. This combination allows the optimization of the power generation system by reducing emissions from the petroleum and coal based energy sources.

This paper presents a pilot hybrid power system design for the power supply in the hotel ‘La man- sion’ in the town of Acacias, Meta (Colombia). Simulation and optimization were based on a computer program known as HOGA educational version 2.2, which initially considered economic parameters associated to photovoltaic system such as: overall power, replacement cost and operation and main- tenance costs, as well as all powers to consider in the simulation. The main purpose is to present an alternative power source in the hotel located in an area with high rates of power outages, and gradu- ally include photovoltaic solar power combined with conventional energy supply, to meet the energy demand when the peak consumption periods occurs during power outages from the power grid.

This paper confirmed that hybrid power systems are a good energy supply alternative as auxiliary small power systems because they are capable of supplying the power demands during power grid out- ages or even in total absence of the power grid. Simulations showed that the combination of diesel and solar photovoltaics is a good alternative to meet lighting power demand in the hotel ‘La Mansion’, even in night hours thanks to the battery storage.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Integrated Molten-Salt Nuclear Reactor Systems for Base-Load Power Plants

r.g. boothroyd

Molten-salt reactors (MSRs) can provide inexpensive industrial process heating in addition to generat- ing electricity. In most cases, this can be best accomplished by design simplification, which results in improvements to MSR’s already existing and inherently strong safety characteristics. This is just one of a number of possible future scenarios that will influence the way in which MSR technology can develop and become marketable. The emphasis in this paper is to develop a reactor with application to the widest possible range of industries. This paper concentrates on the need to develop the inherent safety characteristics of the single fluid thermal reactor with the expectation that sufficient reliability and safety will be achieved in design so that these power generators will eventually be accepted for close integration into the fabric of modern society. It seems inevitable that the required licensing procedures needed for MSRs will vary considerably depending on their type because different designs vary so much. Those used for low-temperature process heat in addition to power generation require much less demanding regulatory procedures than those operating at higher temperatures. This is largely because long-term corrosion is more problematic at higher temperatures and present-day construction materials limit the development of MSRs from reaching their full potential. With appropriate experience with operating early designs of MSRs it is reasonable to expect that lower temperature versions will become certifiable for use in close proximity to a large range of human activities. Ultimately these reactors will be controllable remotely without the local attendance of technical staff.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Distribution of Co2 in Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs

n.c.i. furuvik

Deep geologic injection of supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) has been widely used for improved oil recovery from depleted oilfields since early 1970s. The CO2 injec- tion maintains the pressure, mobilize the oil and release the petroleum resources that would otherwise be inaccessible. In addition to improving the oil recovery, the CO2-EOR contributes to minimize the impact of CO2-emissions to the atmosphere. The injected CO2 will be remained trapped in the under- ground geological formations, as the CO2 replace the oil and water in the pores. Carbonate reservoirs are characterized by low permeability and high heterogeneity, resulting in early breakthrough of gas and water and hence low oil recovery. The presence of naturally fractures in carbonate reservoirs is a major problem for the oil industry using CO2-EOR, because significant amount of CO2 are recycled to the well, and thereby not distributes in the reservoir. This study focuses on CO2 injection into a naturally fractured carbonate reservoir, including near-well simulations of CO2-distribution in the rock matrix. The simulations are carried out using the reservoir simulation software Rocx in combination with OLGA. The simulations show that CO2-injection into a naturally fractured carbonate reservoir in combination with closing of the fractured zones result in good distribution of CO2 in the reservoir.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: PCDD/F Emissions from Virgin and Treated Wood Combustion

g. passamani

Energy from biomass is becoming increasingly important as fossil fuel reserves diminish. The utiliza- tion of biomass is already prevalent in the domestic heating sector, but produces significant amounts of pollutants that are detrimental to human health. Dioxins, formed in any combustion process where car- bon, oxygen and, chlorine are present, are a subject of major interest due to their carcinogenicity. Much research has been carried out to study emissions from hazardous and municipal waste incinerators. Dioxin emission from wood combustion plants are also of interest, especially those due to combustion of treated, varnished or PVC-coated wood, which can produce high polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) emissions. This study compares the PCDD/F emissions produced by burning treated wood and virgin wood to verify if the differences are significant. Six different wood samples were analysed (three of treated wood and three of virgin wood) and a two-step wood gasification boiler was used. The analysis has been conducted both on off gas and on ashes. The measured PCDD/F concentrations are to be considered particularly limited and the treated wood use does not cause a general worsening in the PCDD/F emission. Thus, the wood treatment – subject of study – is not dangerous for PCDD/F. Finally, the experimental results indicated that during the thermal treatment, the formation mechanism of PCDD/F is the de novo synthesis.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: The Renewable Energy in a LED Standalone Streetlight

d. vitali — 12-31-2016

This work deals with the design of a standalone streetlight provided with a solar panel and a multiple vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) along the structure. A prototype was built and is currently being tested in the Monte Dago campus of the Università Politecnica delle Marche. The ongoing focus of the project is to improve the overall efficiency and the manufacturing details for the industrialization. A battery bank allows delaying the energy delivering from the energy production, while a central process unit on board collects the data from every component in the equipment. This unit allows to monitor the day-by-day efficiency of the energy-lighting system, and to send the information wirelessly with the purpose of integrating into a smart grid-like management platform. The test site includes a meteorological mast, which can measure the weather conditions, such as wind speed and solar radiation. The wind turbines included in the streetlight have been studied from an aerodynamic point of view through an extensive experimental analysis in the wind tunnel. Moreover, the structural design of the wind rotors was carried out together with the security system including a mechanical brake, which prevents the damage of the components during high wind speed conditions. The control of the hybrid energy unit, designed to track the optimal performance, has been analyzed throughout the local wind conditions. Also, it is discussed the effectiveness of this streetlight concept in various climate situations.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Characterization of the Thermal Performance of an Outdoor Telecommunication Cabinet

p. d. silva — 12-31-2016

The growing use of telecommunication technologies has led the industry to develop infrastructure to support this progress. The outer telecommunications cabinets are part of the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) allowing to accommodate and protect from outer adverse conditions, a set of electronic equipment needed to operate the mobile communication network. This kind of cabinets should have a proper thermal performance to ensure indoor air temperature below 55℃ to avoid exceeding the maximum operating temperature of the electronic equipment. This work describes the analysis of the thermal performance of an outdoor telecommunication cabinet (OTC) using the computational tool DesignBuilder. The simulation results are compared to the experimental data collected in real cabinet under normal operating conditions. The simulation results show that the air temperature predicted by the model is closer to the temperature measured experimentally inside the cabinet particularly when the weather data files of the computational model have a similar behavior to the actual weather data. Numerical studies show that the use of mechanical ventilation is effective in the extraction of heat generated inside the cabinet. However, there is a limit beyond which increasing the air flow rate does not result in a significant decrease of the cabinet air temperature. The studies also show the importance of the radiant properties and the geographical location of the cabinet. High values of the outer surface cabinet emissivity impair the thermal performance of the cabinet during the day and for some locations, an operational mechanical ventilation system may not be enough to maintain the indoor air temperature below 55℃. Overall, the use of DesignBuilder proved to be very effective for characterizing the thermal performance of telecommunications outdoor cabinets.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Environmental Pollution from Waste and Biomass Energy Generation

e.c. rada

In the sectors of waste and biomass to energy, some debatable paradigms persist both among the spe- cialists and among the population, concerning the performances of a few energy options. The present article wants to give a contribution to clarify the debate related to three cases: (a) local impact of waste to energy plants, from conventional solutions to innovative ones (thermochemical processes); (b) local impact of Solid Recovered Fuel generation before energy exploitation; (c) local impact of combustion of wood. Three key articles have been selected from the Author’s production (more than one hundred Scopus indexed works) in order to perform a deeper analysis. Results demonstrate that, changing the perspective, some paradigms on the environmental performances of a few waste and biomass options for energy generation must be at least modified.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Preface

This issue contains a selection of papers presented at the 2nd International Conference on Energy Production and Management in the 21st Century, “The Quest for Sustainable Energy”, organized by the Wessex Institute of Technology, UK, the Universitá Politecnica delle Marche, Italy, and the Ural Federal University, Russia.

The papers deal with many of the current issues related to energy production and management.

The quest for Energy can be seen as a unique long journey spanning over the history of humanity. As a matter of fact, humans have spent much of their lives struggling to achieve, gather, and manage energy.

In modern societies, the consumption of energy is one of the main indicators of the level of development. The rapid growth of the world population and the demand for higher living standards has led to the massive consumption of non-renewable energy sources with serious environmental consequences. While in the past many of these problems were localised, today we must talk of “global” pollution and the zone adversely affected is simply the whole world, mainly due to the extensive use of fossil fuels, and there is an urgent need to increase the use of renewable sources of energy.

Yet, the transition from an economy based on conventional energy to one relying on renewable sources represents a massive challenge. It requires new scientific and technological progress related not only to energy production but also to new ways of distribution, storage and usage, aiming to mitigate the negative environmental impacts associated with conventional energy. In this context, the complexity of modern energy production and management requires a multidisciplinary approach that can take into consideration not only advances in technology but also involves the environmental, economic, social and political aspects.

In such framework, the contributions in this issue present recent developments and experiences made in different parts of the world.

The digital version of the papers, as well as those resulting from the previous conference held in Ekaterinburg in 2014 are archived in Open Access format in the eLibrary of the Wessex Institute (witpress.com/elibrary) where they are freely available to the international community.

The Editors are grateful to all authors for the quality of their contributions as well as to the colleagues who helped to review the papers and hence ensure the quality of this issue.

The Editors Ancona, 2016

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Heat Absorption Properties of Ground Material for Solar Chimney Power Plants

sundus s. al-azawiey

One of the major challenges to the widespread application of the solar chimney power plant is its low-power conversion efficiency because of the three technological processes involved. The chimney efficiency is difficult to improve, and thus enhancing the collector or turbine performance can consider- ably improve the total plant efficiency. This work focused on enhancing the energy conversion efficiency of the collector and also extending the operation time using a heat storage medium. The solar to thermal conversion and thermal storage capabilities of six ground materials that are potentially available in Malay- sia were studied experimentally and numerically. The experimental model was designed such that the six materials were exposed to the same operation boundary conditions. The numerical studies were conducted using ANSYS software, where the geometrical models were developed and simulated using FLUENT for the fluid flow and energy/thermal field studies. The selected ground materials were ceramic, black stones, sawdust, dark-green painted wood, sand, and pebbles. The simulation and experimental results are in good agreement in terms of air stream velocity and energy conversion efficiency. The results showed that the different materials have different heat storage capacities, and that ceramics extend the operation with improved efficiency until nighttime. The results also showed that ceramic and black stones have better performance than the other materials. However, black stones are recommended as the absorbing material for solar chimney power plants in Malaysia and regional countries because they are readily available.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Modelling Anaerobic Digestion During Temperature and Load Variations

w.h. bergland

Experimental results and simulations based on the Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1 (ADM1) with temperature effects on kinetics were used to evaluate rate limiting steps in sludge bed anaerobic diges-tion (AD) during load and temperature variations. Simulations were carried out in Aquasim. The model is compared to data from a pilot experiment in a 220 liter AD sludge bed reactor treating diary manure for 16 months of various loads; 0–13 kg COD L−1 d−1 and various temperatures; 25°C, 30°C and 35°C. Methane and CO2 production were monitored on-line while soluble and particulate organic carbon, pH and volatile fatty acids were measured on regularly collected inlet and effluent samples. Simulated overall soluble and particulate organic carbon removal, methane and CO2 production, pH and acetate are close to measured values while propionate is underestimated during some transitions. The fit is mainly sensitive to the composition of the feed in terms of relative amounts of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates especially at simultaneously high load and low temperature. During such conditions, the model predicts accumulation of long chained fatty acids (LCFA), suggesting that the degradation of LCFA is the rate-limiting step at low temperatures. This effect is not explained by reduced LCFA solubility at lower temperature. The model predicts that sludge bed AD efficiency on substrates with little or no LCFA is independent of temperature between 25°C and 35°C while LCFA degradation is favoured by higher temperature.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Multi-Source Heat Pump Coupled with a Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) Hybrid Solar Collectors Technology: A Case Study in Residential Application

g. emmi

Nowadays the heat pump technology is an efficient solution in the residential sector since it allows to reduce CO₂ emissions and to exploit renewable energy sources. At the same time, the solar energy is the renewable source for excellence.

In this study, different combinations of a photovoltaic thermal hybrid solar collector (PVT) and a multi-source heat pump for space heating and domestic hot water (DHW) production have been investigated. The air, solar and ground heat sources for the heat pump were analysed. The case study regards the heat demand of a single-family house building located in north-east of Italy. The considered system configurations have been investigated by means of the simulation tool TRNSYS coupled to a dedicated mathematical model for the estimation of the electrical and thermal performances of solar panels. This model is based on the equivalent electrical circuit.

As a result, all the investigated multi-source systems reported an increase of energy efficiency between 14% and 26% compared to a standard air to water heat pump system. The system with air and solar sources has an energy efficiency equal to 3.64, slightly lower than that obtained for the more complex systems.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Techno-Economic Comparison of Renewable Energy Systems Using Multi-Pole System Analysis (MPSA)

m. holl

The recently published method of multi-pole system analysis (MPSA) is used to techno-economically compare two wind-energy converters: offshore wind turbines and the energy ship concept. According to the method, both systems are (i) modeled, (ii) energetically and economically analyzed, (iii) techno- economically optimized and, finally, (iv) expected uncertainties are calculated and assessed. The results of the method are used to derive the necessary cost reduction of the wind-energy converters to be economically competitive to fossil-fuel-based technologies.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Analysis of a Residential Building Energy Consumption as “Base Model” in Tripoli, Lebanon

b. yathreb

The interest in energy performance of buildings in Lebanon has increased in the last few years. Indeed, many organizations are evaluating the commercial buildings’ energy performance in order to increase the commercial sector energy efficiency. Since residential buildings occupy 47% of the overall end-use energy consumption in Lebanon, therefore; the development of a rating methodology for residential energy performance should also be significant. This study reveals the results of a field survey of residential apartment buildings in the city of Tripoli. The survey focuses on the newly built-up extended zones of the city (Basateen El-Mina and Basateen Trablous), that are subject to the current building code. Based on a questionnaire and a monitoring survey, a building performance simulation model was created to reflect the average energy consumption characteristics for the most residential building accumulation. This benchmark model describes the energy use report for heating, cooling, lighting, domestic hot water systems and appliances with respect to the building’s layout, orientation and con- struction. The output data of the simulation will be compared with collected EDL (Electicite du Liban) bill. The aim of this study is to develop representative building energy data sets and benchmark models for the Lebanese residential sector specifically in the coastal zone area. Having a “base model “as a benchmark for existing residential buildings will form the basis of a research on specific building technologies and measurements of progress towards the Zero Energy Building goal.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Heavy Oil Production with Energy Effective Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage

m. j. høhrbye

In reservoirs with extra heavy oil and bitumen, thermal methods are used to reduce the viscosity, in order to extract the oil. Steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) is a thermal method where continuous steam injection is used. In this method, two horizontal wells are placed in parallel. The upper well injects steam and the lower well produces oil and condensed water. The continuous steam injection creates a chamber with uniform temperature. Heavy oil and bitumen reserves in Western Canada, which exceed 175 billion barrels, are becoming increasingly important petroleum sources due to the technical success of the SAGD processes. This study includes Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling and simulations of a horizontal oil well with SAGD. The simulations are performed with inflow control devices (ICD) and autonomous inflow control valves (AICV) completion. In the SAGD processes, it is important that the residence time for steam in the reservoir is high enough to ensure that all the injected steam condenses in the reservoir to reduce the amount of steam injection and thereby making the SAGD process more energy effective. The simulations are carried out with ICD completion to delay the steam breakthrough and with AICV completion to prevent breakthrough of steam and water to the well. The numerical results showed that a most of the steam was produced together with the oil when ICD completion was used. AICV was able to close for steam and water, and the steam was thereby forced to condense in the reservoir, resulting in better utilization of the condensation energy.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages undefined: An Innovative Energy Management System for the Integration of Volatile Energy into Industrial Processes

a. pelzer

The generation of electricity by volatile renewable energy sources, such as wind and sun, has increased significantly in many European countries in the last decade. Such a success is mostly due to the economic incentives given to the power producers by renewable energy sources. It has encouraged many small- and medium-sized enterprises to generate a part of their electricity consumption locally. Such a modern business model has created a new actor within the electric power system: the prosumer. The electricity generated by decentralized power plants in many small- and medium-sized enterprises to date is not integrated into the industrial processes, but it is, firstly, fed into the electric grid and is, successively, withdrawn from the grid. A direct integration of the electric power generated into industrial processes is preferable both from the energetic as well as from the environmental point of view. In order to do this, it is necessary to use Energy Management Systems (EMSs), which control the consumption and/or the energy storage systems optimally according the power produced by the volatile renewable energy sources. Such EMSs will allow the enterprises to develop Industry 4.0 solutions and, therefore, cut the energy costs for manufacturing. This study aims to describe the information and communication architecture as well as the modus operandi of a developed intelligent EMS for the integration of the volatile electricity into an industrial process.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Organizational and Legal Aspects of Developing and Implementing Prospective Heat Supply Schemes in Municipalities

y. g. munts

The paper analyses current legislations that regulate the development and implementation of municipal heat supply systems. A cost-effectiveness analysis of an investment programme model taken for a particular heat supply scheme in a Sverdlovsk regional municipality reveals a certain number of problem areas of organizational and legal nature in the overall heat supply process. Hence, certain ways of amending existing legislations are proposed to improve and streamline the heat supply restructuration process. The paper also presents an algorithm of cooperation for heat supply participants whenever an energy service company enters the scheme as an investment process operator.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Assessment of Competitiveness of Power Generating Companies Through a Risk-Based Approach: A Case Study of Developing Economies

g. chebotareva

The global financial crisis has shown that power companies are highly exposed to market risks. Market volatility creates competitive tension in the industry because the lack of the necessary methodological tools does not allow power companies to timely identify and measure the severity of emerging threats. Given the current situation, one of the major challenges in the industry is the creation of tools able to assist in the development of a strategy for improving the competitiveness of power companies. The article presents the authors’ risk-based approach to the assessment of industrial risks in the power sector. It assumes a certain level of long-term financial stability, investment attractiveness and, as a result, the competitiveness of the company. The aspects of practical application of the authors’ approach to the assessment of industrial risks are shown in examples of power companies.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Analysis Of Russian UGS Capacity in Europe

a. aristova

Gas is the fuel of choice in Europe for heating, and many expect that gas consumption will continue to increase in the future. On the contrary, European indigenous production decreases, yielding needs to import natural gas primarily from Russia. Travelling long distances from production sites, gas deliveries come by pipelines. Most of them, having operated for decades, have almost depleted their design lifetime, and before long will tend (or have already implemented) to reduce nominal flow pressure and thus flow capacities. To compensate sufficiently for gas peak demands avoiding long, costly and sometimes not practical procedures of changing out pipes, it is suggested to examine the effect of gas storage at European strategic locations to ensure the balance between gas demand and supply.

Along with storing gas in a liquid form as LNG, stipulated by need in spacious plants and infrastructure, Underground Gas Storages (UGS) near to the customers are studied and are seen as the most practical way of natural gas preservation in a gaseous form. Conditions provided, pressurized gas is held in underground facilities at key locations, so that it can rapidly be transported to desired regions.

Depending on a number of factors, and to suit the different gas supply needs, various types of UGSs are distinguished as follows:

Gas storage in depleted fields.
Gas storages in a water-bearing structures.
Gas storages in salt dome formations.

The paper outlooks UGSs across Western and Eastern Europe with focus on the available capacity of the biggest gas supplier to EU-Gazprom Group Company and its storage capacities. An investigation is done to demonstrate the recent change in storage volumes rented and owned, and change in the geog- raphy of storages involved.

Applying technical and economic criteria, the study shows a need of Russian gas to Europe and a need of European UGS facilities for Russian gas.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Use of Nanoporous Ceramic Membranes for Carbon Dioxide Separation

m. n. kajama

Natural gas processes accounts for about 5.3 billion tonnes per year of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission to the atmosphere. At this rate of emission, the expectation will drastically rise if not curtailed. In order to achieve this, a cost-effective and environmental friendly technology is required. In recent times, membrane technology has been widely applied for CO₂ removal from raw natural gas components. This article examines CO₂ separation from natural gas, mainly methane (CH₄), through a mesoporous composite membrane. A laboratory scale tubular silica membrane with a permeable length of 348 mm, I.D and O.D of 7 and 10 mm, respectively, was used in this experiment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the morphology of the membrane. Single gas permeation of helium (He), CH₄, nitrogen (N₂), argon (Ar) and CO₂ were determined at permeation temperature range between 25 and 100°C and feed gauge pressure of 0.05 to 5.0 barg. Before silica modification, He recorded the highest flow rate (0.3745 l/min) while CO₂ recorded the least flow rate (0.1351 l/min) at 0.4 barg and 25°C. After silica modification, CO₂ flow enhances significantly (3.1180 l/min at 1.0 barg) compared to CH₄ (2.1200 l/min at the same gauge pressure) due to the influence of surface flow mechanism. Temperature variation described the applicability of Knudsen diffusion for He. A combination of viscous, surface and Knudsen diffusion transport mechanisms were obtained throughout the experiment. Membrane thickness was also calculated to be 2.5 × 10−4 m.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Ceria-Based Materials for High-Temperature Electrochemistry Applications

pikalova, e. y.

This paper describes the experimental studies of multi-component solid state electrolytes based on CeO₂ and their application in intermediate temperature electrochemical devices. Two important aspects are emphasized: the effect of different dopants’ ionic radius and concentration on the electrical properties of CeO₂-based solid solutions in air and the influence of combined dopants on the electrolytic properties of solid electrolytes from the standpoint of the critical oxygen partial pressure pO₂ at which point the values of the electronic and ionic components of conductivity are equal. Examples of usage of the developed multi-component Ce_0.8(Sm_0.75Sr_0.2Ba_0.05)_0.2O_2-δ electrolyte synthesized by solid state, laser evaporation and combustion methods and composites on the base of Ce_0.8(Sm_0.8Sr_0.2)_0.2O_2−δ electrolyte as a component of electrochemical devices such as solid oxide fuel cell, gas sensors and as a component of the mixed ionic and electronic conducting (MIEC) membranes for hydrogen and syngas gas production are cited.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Increased Temperature in Urban Ground as Source of Sustainable Energy

j. rivera

Densely urbanized areas are characterized by special microclimatic conditions with typically elevated temperatures in comparison with the rural surrounding. This phenomenon is known as the urban heat island (UHI) effect, but not restricted exclusively to the atmosphere. We also find significant warming of the urban subsurface and shallow groundwater bodies. Here, main sources of heat are elevated ground surface temperatures, direct thermal exploitation of aquifers and heat losses from buildings and other infrastructure. By measuring the shallow groundwater temperature in several European cities, we identify that heat sources and associated transport processes interact at multiple spatial and temporal scales. The intensity of a subsurface UHI can reach the values of above 4 K in city centres with hotspots featuring temperatures up to +20°C. In comparison with atmospheric UHIs, subsurface UHIs represent long-term accumulations of heat in a relatively sluggish environment. This potentially impairs urban groundwater quality and permanently influences subsurface ecosystems. From another point of view, however, these thermal anomalies can also be seen as hidden large-scale batteries that constitute a source of shallow geothermal energy. Based on our measurements, data surveys and estimated physical ground properties, it is possible to estimate the theoretical geothermal potential of the urban groundwater bodies beneath the studied cities. For instance, by decreasing the elevated temperature of the shallow aquifer in Cologne, Germany, by only 2 K, the obtained energy could supply the space-heating demand of the entire city for at least 2.5 years. In the city of Karlsruhe, it is estimated that about 30% of annual heating demand could be sustainably supplied by tapping the anthropogenic heat loss in the urban aquifer. These results reveal the attractive potential of heated urban ground as energy reservoir and storage, which is in place at many places worldwide but so far not integrated in any city energy plans.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Estimating Solar Radiation in Ikeja and Port Harcourt via Correlation with Relative Humidity and Temperature

o. t. kolebaje

Relative humidity and temperature data are more readily available to obtain from observatories than sunshine hour data. In this work, 10 years (1986–1987, 1990–1997) monthly average measurement of relative solar radiation, daily temperature range, relative humidity and the ratio of minimum to maximum temperature were used to establish the coefficient of eight models for estimating solar radiation in Ikeja and Port Harcourt. Coefficient of correlation (R), Mean Bias Error (MBE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Percentage Error (MPE), t-statistic and the rank score were used as performance indicators. In Port Harcourt, the equation producing the best result with MBE, RMSE, MPE and t-statistic value of −0.1078, 0.9850, −0.4373% and 0.3653, respectively, is given by:

$\frac{R_S}{R_0}=3.266-0.306(\overline{R H})^{0.5}$

In Ikeja, the equation producing the best estimation with MBE, RMSE, MPE and t-statistic value of 0.1590, 1.0110, 2.0559% and 0.5281, respectively, is given by:

$\frac{R_S}{{R_0}}=2.042 - 2.136 (ϴ)$

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 3, Pages undefined: The Thermo-Stressed State of Steam Turbine Rotors During Plant Start-Up

v. goloshumova

This article suggests the use of the value of the thermo-stressed state in the turbine steam input stage as one of the key parameters characterizing the start-up reliability of the turbine plant cycle. The authors present the principles of the development of the steam turbine rotor warming model for continuous monitoring of its thermo-stressed state, using a personal computer in real time. The research conducted on the thermo-stressed state of the rotor using a universal CAE programme allowed the hypothesizing of the maximum thermo-stressed states as can be calculated with sufficient precision by ‘characteristic’ temperature differences inside the rotor. It is proposed to evaluate the thermo-stressed states using regression dependence on the ‘characteristic’ differences of the real-time temperature field. Samples for the regression analysis are obtained from preliminary results of CAE programme calculations. An example is given for the whole range of the necessary computational research to produce modules of a control device for the steam turbine T-110/120-130. The modules are tested in the MATLAB Simulink environment.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Osmotic Energy, a Little-Known Renewable Energy Source

e. andrade

When the rivers lead into the sea, it merges two water bodies with different salinity level, releasing a large amount of energy when the solutions equilibrate its concentrations; this phenomenon is known as osmosis. With the purpose to use this energy to transform it into electricity, it has been developed a device with a semi-permeable membrane, when is placed between the solutions with different saline concentration, allows to equalize the concentration at a constant pressure or volume. The membrane behavior on the device is similar to the behavior of the living being cells membrane, that’s the reason to call the device as a membrane module. Using a membrane module array is possible to get brackish water, with a pressure corresponding to the osmotic pressure that represents hydraulic energy that could be transformed into electricity by well-known means. This work presents a conceptual methodology for preliminary design of an osmotic power plant, which could be a theoretical reference for different alternatives to generate electricity in the places where it’s possible to implement it, as the way to dimension and design the system, including concepts and parameters related to conventional, energy-production processes, allowing to know different methods for energy production that someday could be competi- tive with the traditional energy generation.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Assessment of Economic Feasibility for Grid- Connected Renewable Energy System for a Household Application in Terengganu

w. m. w. muda

This article extends the conference paper ‘Simulation-based method to evaluate PV/wind hybrid renewable energy system in Terengganu’. Instead of off-grid system considered in the conference version, inspired by feed-in-tariff introduced by The Government of Malaysia, this article includes grid-connected hybrid renewable energy system to examine their feasibility to be used as power supply for a household in Terengganu. In addition, this article compares the performance of grid-only system and hybrid grid-renewable energy systems in terms of cost of electricity and emission of pollutant. The payback period is also examined based on the current sellback rate. Sensitivity analysis is done to find the best sellback rate for a hybrid grid/PV/wind system to compete with a hybrid grid/PV system. In addition, the most optimal configuration is also determined by varying the value of solar radiation, wind speed and sellback rate. Generally, it is concluded that the hybrid grid/PV system is the most practicable choice to be used as power generator to supply electricity for a household in Terengganu.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages undefined: A New Paradigm of Governance for a Carbon-Pricing System

s. quéré

Throughout its life, the United Nations has played a pioneering role in the world of ideas. COP21 – also known as Paris 2015 – shows the path for the United Nations to establish a new governance that will enforce the compliance of a new planetary carbon-pricing system. Maintaining global warming below 2 °C means implementing an efficient carbon-pricing system, supported by effective measures promoting a green energy transition. A planetary carbon governance yields a number of new insights that include the following: (1) a bonus-malus system with a fixed signal price for carbon, (2) a planetary carbon market that will gather existing regional carbon markets, (3) a hybrid carbon-pricing system linking a carbon tax and a carbon market for advanced countries and (4) a support mechanism for emerging and developing countries to assist them with a carbon-pricing system. This new governance will promote an energy transition plan. In the COP21 context, responsible policymaking requires key characteristics for the enforcement of a successful planetary carbon-pricing system

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Green Buildings and Design for Adaptation: Strategies for Renovation of the Built

a. boeri

The recent EU Directives 2010/31 and 2012/27 provide standards of nearly zero energy buildings for new constructions, aiming at a better quality of the built environment through the adoption of high-performance solutions. In the near future, cities are expected to be the main engine of development while bearing the impact of population growth: new challenges such as increasing energy efficiency, reducing maintenance costs of buildings and infrastructures, facing the effects of climate change and adjusting on-going and future impacts, require smart and sustainable approaches. To improve the capability of adaptation to dynamics of transformation, buildings and districts have to increase their resilience, assumed as ‘the capacity to adapt to changing conditions and to maintain or regain functionality and vitality in the face of stress or disturbance’ (Wilson A., Building Resilience in Boston, Boston Society of Architects, 2013). This paper describes the research methodology, developed by the Department of Architecture, a research unit of Technology for Architecture, to perform the assessment of resilience of existing buildings, as well as the outcomes of its application within Bologna urban context. This methodology focuses on the design for adaptation of social housing buildings, aiming at predicting their expected main impacts (energy consumption, emissions, efficiency, urban quality and environmental sustainability) and at developing models for renovation.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Interdisciplinarity as Heuristic Resource for Energy Management

l. gitelman

As high-tech industries continue to experience dynamic growth and problems of development in high-tech industries are getting increasingly complex, managers have to embrace the need for new competencies that match present-day challenges. This calls for a qualitative change in the architecture of education to bring it up to date with contemporary trends. Using cases from Russia, the paper aims to provide a groundwork for an interdisciplinary approach to building professional competencies in energy managers as a framework for forward-looking management of high-tech industries in a non- linear environment. The authors identify factors that determine the new management imperative and set out methodological principles of developing a management culture. A model of professionalism in management is proposed that is the result of a complex interplay of interrelated competencies. The paper also explains the key features of an interdisciplinary training programme. To prove the research hypothesis, an analysis was conducted of empirical data from expert reviews by executives at Russian energy companies and leading academics.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages undefined: On the Need for a Global Engineering Initiative to Mitigate Climate Change

max f. platzer

There is growing scientific evidence that the continued emission of greenhouse gases will eventually lead to catastrophic irreversible climate change and that, therefore, a global effort needs to be started to transition to a fully renewable economy. In this article, the engineering challenges of converting to emission-free power generation are reviewed and the feasibility of two proposed solutions, i.e. the ‘wind–water–solar’ and the ‘energy ship’ proposals, are discussed. It is concluded that a well-conceived and executed engineering effort needs to be initiated and guided by a Global Engineering Council for the purpose of examining and ranking various proposals and making specific recommendations.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Parametric Analysis for an Algal Oil Production Process

f. madugu

Microalgae are considered to be one of the most feasible options that have the potential to serve as a major feedstock for biofuels and bio-products production. However, the economic viability of com- mercial scale production remains questionable by many researchers and investors. There are several uncertainties in the technology for microalgae growing and harvesting, and the extraction of algal oil, which makes it difficult to identify the technology most suitable for minimizing cost and maximizing profits. Therefore, there is a need to carry out parametric analyses to identify the influence of system configuration and process on the economic viability. This study establishes an economic analysis for a microalgae oil production pathway to determine the minimum cost of producing algal oil. Taking the capital and operating costs parameters from the economic analysis, some of the key parameters are changed across a range of values and their influence on the final cost of algal oil is analysed. Each of the parameters is analysed across a range of production scale from 5 to 75 g/m2/d. The results show that the most important cost-driving parameters are the pond cost (especially the liners) and the harvesting costs, and that the costs can be reduced from £1.87/L to £1.58/L for a growth rate of 25 g/m2/d and £1.34/L for a growth rate of 50 g/m2/d. This ultimately suggests that to achieve economic viability, improvements to cell biology (both growth rates and lipid content) and reducing systems unit costs while improving performance will be required together.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Ecological Foresight in the Nuclear Power of XXI Century

o. tashlykov

The access to reliable sources of energy is the key to sustainable development of mankind. The major part of the energy consumed by people is generated with a chemical reaction of fossil fuel burning. This leads to quick depletion of natural resources and progressing environmental pollution. The contribution of the renewable energy sources to the general energy production remains insignificant.

A modern 1,000 MW coal-fired thermal power plant (TPP) burns 2.5 million tons of coal per year and produces significant amount of solid and gaseous waste. TPPs are the largest consumers of atmospheric oxygen and sources of carbon dioxide. A nuclear power plant (NPP) of the same power consumes less than 50 tons of fuel per year. Environmentally significant NPP’s waste (liquid, solid and gaseous) is carefully collected, reduced in volume (evaporation, filtering, compaction, incinera- tion, etc.) and securely isolated from the environment at the plant. The annual volume of waste for storage is less than 100 m3. The waste is under the control of a special NPP’s service and regulatory authorities.

The energy of fission reaction millions of times exceeding the energy of burning has an enormous potential that mankind can receive.

Four hundred and thirty-three nuclear power units with a total capacity of about 400 GW exist in the world. The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi NPP in Japan in March 2011 caused anxiety about nuclear safety throughout the world and raised questions about the future of nuclear power. Now, it is clear that the use of nuclear power will continue to grow in the coming decades, although the growth will be slower than was anticipated before the accident. Many countries with existing nuclear power programmes plan to expand them. Many new countries, both developed and developing, plan to introduce nuclear power. Some countries, such as Germany, plan to abandon nuclear energy. The IAEA’s latest projections show a steady rise in the number of NPPs in the world in the next 20 years. They project a growth in nuclear power capacity by 23% by 2030 in the low projection and by 100% in the high projection [1,2].

The basis of modern nuclear power comprises water-cooled nuclear reactors which use the energy potential of natural uranium inefficiently (thermal reactors). The thermal reactors use isotope U-235 in which the content of natural uranium is <1%. Breeder reactors are capable of using the significant part of energy potential, which is unavailable to thermal light water reactors. As a result, the same starting quantity of uranium can produce 50 times more energy. These reactors can transform U-238 into fissile Pu-239 in larger amounts than they consume fissile material. This feature is called ‘breeding’ [3].

The key problem of using the basic benefitsv of nuclear power is to ensure the safety of its use, as well as decommissioning and reliable isolation of process waste from the biosphere. The long-term large-scale nuclear power should possess guaranteed safety, economic stability and competitiveness, absence of the raw material base restrictions for a long period of time and environmental sustainability (low waste). The nuclear power systems with fast neutron reactors and liquid metal coolant can satisfy these conditions.

More than 40 years of Russian experience in the field of construction and operation of sodium fast reactors makes it possible to summarize and analyze the ecological features of reactors of this type, the possibility of their use for sustainable energy supply of mankind and solving environmental problems.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Financing Schemes for Residential, Grid-Connected PV Solar Systems in BCS, Mexico

a. bermudez-contreras

This article presents two proposals to spur the extensive adoption of grid-connected, residential, solar photovoltaic systems in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. To this aim, electricity generation costs and subsidies were estimated first, together with time-of-generation avoided costs that could result from the implementation of such solar systems. An overview of financing mechanisms for solar and other renewable energies around the world is also presented followed by current mechanisms available in Mexico. The first proposal is centered around the operation of a solar energy service company that would receive the avoided cost of generation as compensation in return for sourcing, installing, and maintaining solar PV systems on residential users’ roofs. This would free up the residential user from any future electricity payments. The second proposal consists in the implementation of a feed-in tariff (FiT), currently unavailable in Mexico for residential users. The FiT could be funded from the avoided generation cost in conventional plants plus the corresponding savings from self-generation of electricity. Alternatively, the option of funding the FiT from small increases in electricity prices to all customers was also explored. Present value analyses suggest that both proposals are worthwhile pursuing in Baja California Sur.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2015, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Co-Benefits of Primary Energy Conservation, Reduced Emissions and Costs Through Biomass and Waste Incineration Chp in District Heating

fabian levihn

Energy utility companies face trade-offs in navigating through today’s environmental challenges. On the one hand, they face intense political, social and environmental pressures to move toward adopt- ing energy systems that incorporate the use of renewable energy resources. By making this transition, they would contribute to carbon reduction and mitigate climate change. On the other hand, they need to coordinate their resources and become efficient when investing in new plants or upgrading existing production systems. This paper seeks to address the gains that utility companies can make when replacing older fossil-fuel-based plants with efficient combined heat and power (CHP) plants. We discuss the system effects from the changes in production of other units when new plants are constructed. Using one of the largest energy utility companies in Sweden, Fortum, as empirical point of departure, we analyzed the company’s transition from using coal and hydrocarbons to an increased use of renewables and waste incineration CHP. Our analysis was based on comprehensive production data on CO2, SOx and NOx emissions. Our findings suggest that primary energy consumption drops when older, less efficient fossil plants are substituted for new efficient CHP plants; this drop includes the effect on remaining production. The benefits in terms of primary energy savings might even be greater than what is achieved in meeting the goal of climate change abatement through reduced CO2 emissions; NOx and SOx emissions are decreased with new biomass CHPs. Waste incineration CHP increases NOx and SOx emissions, when there is less fossil fuel to replace after the use of biomass is extended. In both cases, economic efficiency increase as costs are reduced.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2015, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages undefined: A Suggested Roadmap for World-Wide Energy Resource Planning and Management

r. g. boothroyd

In the near future, we will need an internationally based system for worldwide planning of future energy resources and their effect on the world environment. Logically, this should be a responsibility of the United Nations, which already possesses much of the infrastructure needed and is already active in this area. Because different nations have different resources, different problems and different needs, it is reasoned that a flexible and diplomatic approach is also called for. We will need to try to secure support from all nations, and the economies and cultures of many nations differ considerably. This calls for special skills in negotiation. This is complicated by the varied, uncertain and changing technologi- cal facilities, which we have at our disposal. After a brief and comparative review of these facilities, an outline of the structure of the internationally coordinating organisation is suggested, followed by examples of the different types of issues which are likely to be encountered. These are: reintroducing improved technology to a nation, which has suffered grievous environmental harm from inadequate similar technology such as the Fukushima incident; nations with especially difficult transport problems; nations with perceived overpopulation problems; using UN and other expertise for nations still under- going development; applying persuasive pressure by peaceful means. Finally, by outlining a large-scale cooperative venture by several nations, the mode of operation of the suggested U.N coordinating body is outlined. The example used is the choice of thorium-based molten-salt reactor technology using both fast and thermal neutron spectra. This appears to be the only choice we have, as other sustainable systems cannot accommodate the size of our problems. The only exception is using the Desertec solar project, which appears to be disadvantaged by being significantly more expensive. Molten-salt reactors would give a 1000-year energy security for industrialised energy-hungry nations on the Far East/Pacific Rim, which is the example considered. This system would use modern actinide burn-up technology to make nuclear-waste disposal a more acceptable proposition. Thus, nuclear waste can become a low-level and disposable hazard after only about 300 years of storage. After this storage, the waste becomes a valuable resource due to production of rare transmuted elements.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2015, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Planning for Sustainable Development of Energy Infrastructure: Fast – Fast Simulation Tool

r. barelkowski

Energy management has significant impact on planning within local or regional scale. The consequences of the implementation of large-scale renewable energy source involves multifaceted analyses, evaluation of environmental impacts, and the assessment of the scale of limitations or exclusions imposed on potential urbanized structures and arable land. The process of site designation has to acknowledge environmental transformations by inclusion of several key issues, e.g. emissions, hazards for nature and/or inhabitants of urbanized zones, to name the most significant. The parameters of potential development of energy-related infrastructure of facility acquire its local properties – the generic development data require adjustment, which is site specific or area specific. FAST (Fast Simulation Tool) is a simple IT tool aimed at supporting sustainable planning on local or regional level in reference to regional or district scale energy management (among other issues). In its current stage, it is utilized – as a work in progress – in the assessment of wind farm structures located within the area of Poznan agglomeration. This paper discusses the implementation of FAST and its application in two conflicting areas around the agglomeration of Poznan.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2015, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Hybrid Techniques to Enhance Solar Thermal: The Way Forward

hussain h. al-kayiem

Solar is one of the pillars for clean and environment friendly energy. The drawback of the solar is the interruption during the night and cloudy and rainy weather. This paper presents the author’s experience on enhancing the solar thermal systems by integration techniques with either other energy resources or thermal energy storages (TES). The present works includes the hybrid solar drying through integra- tion with thermal backup unit. The experimental results on hybrid drying showed enhancement of 64.1% for Empty Fruit Bunch, and 61.1% for chili pepper, compared with open solar mode drying. Secondly, solar water heating was proved to be sufficient to supply hot water during the day and night time by integration with TES. The experimented system was able to maintain the water hot up to the next morning. On large scale and industrial application, experimental results on modified inclined solar chimney had shown enhancement via integration with wasted flue gas. By this technique, the system was developed to operate 24 hours a day. The efficiency was enhanced by 100% in case of hybrid operation compared with solar mode operation. The research results are demonstrating that the integra- tion techniques can contribute effectively in enhancing the performance of the thermal solar systems.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2015, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages undefined: The Global Energy Challenge: Still Fuel for Progress?

erik jarlsby

This paper summarises the key challenges for the global energy sector to fulfil its essential role in the world with a forward perspective from 2014 to 2040. The paper draws on scenarios and other analyses developed by leading institutions and firms. The global availability of extractive energy resources is not likely constrain global progress on human development in the chosen time perspective, but the supplies of oil and gas can come under strain and produce price shocks from time to time resulting from events affecting the supply system. A more severe challenge arises from the impacts of energy-related emissions on the global climate. Actions are possible on the arenas of technology development, enterprise and political governance, which will significantly reduce such risks while fulfilling the energy sector’s contribution to improve human conditions. Six such issues of technology development are highlighted, and two issues of political governance: appropriate pricing of energy and emissions, and development of energy efficient cities.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2015, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Sustainability in Energy Production

g. genon

The requirement of energy in different human activities is continuously increasing; from the energetic production, chiefly by thermal systems, important and worrying environmental problems are generated: there are concerns about climate change, local air quality worsening, exhaustion of resources and land use change. To limit these negative aspects, policies of reduction in energy use must be first proposed; besides different technological, economic and planning solutions can be considered; their effect must be carefully assessed, as concerns effectiveness and practical implementation. The final political decision must consider the different tools that are at disposal, in order to define the best approach for the satisfaction of necessities with the minimum consequent impact.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2015, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Sustainable Use and Production of Energy in the 21st Century

ove t. gudmestad

It is foreseen that oil and gas will continue to be the key energy sources in the 21st century. Therefore, it is important that oil and gas be produced in a sustainable way during the next decades. This requires technology development to ensure that the environmental impact and pollution from these activities are minimal. The following aspects are being highlighted in this paper:

• Development of projects with the minimum of impact on the environment and problems for local populations.

• Sustainable drilling without the use of oil-based mud, and collection of all drilling waste during offshore drilling operations in the most environmentally sensitive areas.

• Treatment of produced water, sand and minerals from the well stream to avoid pollution.

• Limitation of flaring to be performed only when required for safety reasons.

• Continuous checking of pipelines to ensure that gas pipelines are run within their actual pressure capacity and that oil pipelines are not leaking into rivers and lakes.

• Provision of sufficient storage capacity for gas to ensure timely delivery of gas during high demand peaks.

• Injection of CO2 into sealed underground formations where large quantities are produced, such as at LNG factories.

• Optimization of production from existing fields to avoid huge amounts of oil and gas being left in place, following a ‘hit and run’ recovery plan.

Furthermore, all primary energy sources need to be converted into end-user energy services known as mechanical work, electricity, heating and cooling. In the process of conversion, only a portion of the primary energy is transformed into the new form, while the rest remains unaltered and is lost.

The various forms of energy services produced represent different values or qualities, e.g. heat holds an energy quality ranging from 0 and upwards, depending on the temperature difference which is utilized, as defined by the second law of thermodynamics. Energy efficiency in this context may also be defined as the ratio between energy quality output and input.

Practically, all fossil fuels are converted into energy services via combustion and heat, i.e. the con- version efficiency is solely determined by temperatures, meaning that high-energy efficiency can only be obtained at large temperature differences, such as in power generation, while ordinary domestic heating will yield a very low efficiency.

Given that some 30–40 % of all fossil fuels today are used for domestic heating, representing an end-user energy quality of (say) 1/10 of what is obtained in modern power generation, there is a large potential globally for energy efficiency improvements, not to mention the associated emission reduc- tions.

The obvious solution is to pay more attention to the second law of thermodynamics, i.e. to shift from direct combustion heating to thermodynamic principles, e.g. by the use of electrical-driven heat pumps and/or combined heat and power as another alternative.

The objectives of this paper are to highlight how energy production could become more effective, thus leading to a reduction in pollution to land, sea and atmosphere and also to identify how energy production should be carried out to minimize the polluting effects. The goal is to provide a reminder that much can be gained with respect to the reduction of pollution by focusing on cleaner energy production.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2018, Volume 3, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Preface

carlos a. brebbia — 12-31-2017

The world's economy is fuelled by energy. Depletion of resources and severe environmental effects resulting from the continuous use of fossil fuels has motivated an increasing amount of interest in renewable energy resources and the search for sustainable energy policies.
The changes required to progress from an economy mainly focused on hydrocarbons to one taking advantage of sustainable energy resources require considerable scientific research as well as the development of new engineering systems. Energy policies and management are of primary importance to achieve the development of sustainability and need to be consistent with recent advances in energy production and distribution.
In many cases, the challenges lie as much in the conversion from renewable energies (wind, solar, etc) to useful forms (electricity, heat, fuel) at an acceptable cost (including damage to the environment), as in the integration of those resources into an existing infrastructure.
The diverse topics covered by these papers involved collaboration between different disciplines in order to arrive at optimum solutions; including studies of materials, energy networks, new energy resources, storage solutions, waste to energy systems, smart grids and many others.
The Editors are especially grateful to the reviewers, as well as to the authors for their contributions.

The Editors
2017

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2017, Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Preface

11-29-2017

The world’s economy is fuelled by energy. Depletion of resources and severe environmental effects resulting from the continuous use of fossil fuels has motivated an increasing amount of interest in renewable energy resources and the search for sustainable energy policies.

The changes required to progress from an economy mainly focused on hydrocarbons to one taking advantage of sustainable energy resources require considerable scientific research as well as the development of new engineering systems. Energy policies and management are of primary importance to achieve the development of sustainability and need to be consistent with recent advances in energy production and distribution.

In many cases, the challenges lie as much in the conversion from renewable energies (wind, solar, etc) to useful forms (electricity, heat, fuel) at an acceptable cost (including damage to the environment), as in the integration of those resources into an existing infrastructure.

The diverse topics covered by these papers involved collaboration between different disciplines in order to arrive at optimum solutions; including studies of materials, energy networks, new energy resources, storage solutions, waste to energy systems, smart grids and many others.

The Editors are especially grateful to the reviewers, as well as to the authors for their contributions.

The Editors

2017

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Preface

carlos a. brebbia

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2015, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Foreword

h. h. al-kayiem

Modern societies require an ever-increasing amount of energy resources, adding strain to the world economy and creating technological, as well as socio-political, challenges.

This journal aims to address the issues raised above and thus act as an interdisciplinary forum for researchers and practitioners from around the globe working in a variety of topics related to the future of energy production and management in a changing world.

It covers all aspects of energy research, development and recovery from both primary and renewable sources; power generation, storage and distribution; planning and management.

This journal deals with the comparison of conventional energy sources, particularly hydro-carbons, with a number of alternative ways of producing energy, based on renewable resources such as solar, hydro, wind and geothermal, and by applying new technologies. It also welcomes papers on energy use, including industrial processes, imbedded energy contents of materials, such as those used in the built environment, requirements in transportation, ICT and all other energy related activities.

A key issue is the conversion of new, sustainable sources of energy into useful forms (electricity, heat, fuel), while finding efficient ways of storage and distribution. In many cases, the challenges lie as much in the production of such renewable energy at an acceptable cost – including damage to the environment – as with integration of those resources into the existing infrastructure.

The changes needed to progress from an economy mainly based on hydrocarbons to one taking advantage of sustainable energy resources are massive and require considerable scientific research as well as the development of advanced engineering systems. Such progress demands close collaboration between different disciplines in order to arrive at optimum solutions.

Energy production, distribution and usage entail environmental risks that need to be better understood and reliably assessed. This issue relates to human environmental health as well as ecosystem behaviour and it is an important element of energy economics and management.

]]>

International Journal of Energy Production and Management

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Towards Effective Governance in Energy Public–Private Partnership Projects: Evidence from Myanmar’s Developing Economy

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Evaluation of Diesel Engine Performance and Exhaust Emission Characteristics Using Biodiesel under Variable Operating Conditions

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis of Energy Market Mechanisms and Power System Flexibility

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Robust and Fast Voltage Regulation Strategy of the Single-Ended Primary-Inductor Converter Using Modified Discrete-Time Sliding Mode Control

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Review on Heat Transfer Enhancement by Internal Obstructions in Enclosed Cavities under Natural Convection

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Development of a Photoelectrochemical Cell for Hydrogen Production

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Carbon Capture Technologies in Energy Conversion: Emphasis on Membrane and Hybrid Systems

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Study the Effect of Mixture (CHF3-He) Gasses on the Electronic Transmission Parameters During the Electrical Discharge Utilizing Programmatic Computer Analysis

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Comprehensive Evaluation of Materials for Fusion Reactor Applications: A PACBDHTE Approach

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Hydraulic Optimization and Headloss Modeling of the Penstock System in the Way Melesom Mini Hydropower Plant, Lampung, Indonesia

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Technoeconomic Assessment of Methanol Production Plant Integrated with Solar and Wind Energy Resources in Iraq

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Kaleidoscope Model of Lampung’s Renewable Energy Transition Policy: An Evidence-Based Reform Pathway to Regional Energy Independence

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: The Solar Tower Chimney Geometry Impact on Its Performance

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Techno-Economic Feasibility and Environmental Impact Assessment of Hybrid Photovoltaic-Wind Turbine Systems for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in Indonesia

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Enhancement of Solar Distillation Efficiency Using Mesh Cotton Fabric: A Case Study in Kirkuk City-Iraq

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: An Energy Generation by Vibration Generation Using Nonlocal Functionally Graded Porous Piezoelectric Plates

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: The Mediating Roles of Infrastructure and Innovation in the Impact of Renewable Energy Development on Local Economy and Workforce Welfare in Eastern Indonesia

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Numerical Analysis of Flame Propagation Parameters for Different Fuels

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Mathematical Modelling and Hybrid Optimization of Thermally-Constrained Energy Distribution in Cold Logistics Networks

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: The Effect of Changing the Insulator Position in a Cylinder Consisting of Several Insulating

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Solar-Powered Electrification and Hydrogen Integration for Decarbonising the Glass Industry

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Evaluation of Pore Space Conversion in Clayey Limestones upon Hydrogen-Methane Mixture Injection

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Measurement and Performance Evaluation of Load Control in Renewable-Rich Microgrids: A Forecast-Driven PSO Approach for Maximizing PV Self-Consumption and Reducing Grid Dependency

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Using Barrages on the Euphrates River in Iraq to Generate Clean Electrical Power

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Assessment of a Photovoltaic-Driven Pumped Hydro Storage with Multi-Pump Operation and Cascading Turbines

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Feasibility Assessment of Solar Panel Implementation for Energy Generation in the Desert Regions of Western Iraq

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Effect of Biosurfactants on Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Systematic Review

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Modeling of Energy Stored by a Pumped Storage Power Plant Using Wind Energy and Meteorological Data in Cameroon

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Analysis of Oil and Gas Technogenesis of the Aptian-Albian-Cenomanian Hydrogeological Complex of the West Siberian Mega Basin

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: AI and IoT-Based Prediction and Optimization for Energy Efficiency in Campus Buildings

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Experimental and Numerical Optimization of Biogas Energy Production Using the RSM Method

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Comprehensive Exploration of Next-Day Electricity Price Forecasting Using CNN-GRU-VAE Hybrid Model

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Land Suitability Evaluation for Wind Power Farms in Iraq using GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Evaluation

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Development of Innovative Perforation Technology for Enhanced Oil Productivity in Multi-Productive Formation Fields Using Tunnel Well Perforation Methods

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: 3D Simulation of Thermo-Hydraulic Enhancement of Flat-Plate Solar Collector Equipped with Twisted Tape

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: The Effect of Cover Cooling and Solar Collector Integration on the Productivity of a Double-Slope Solar Still

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Dynamic Second-skin Façade Systems: Numerical Energy Performance and Life Cycle Assessment of 3D-printed Panels in a Norwegian Case Study

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Electromechanical Modeling and Optimization of Piezoelectric Sustainable Energy Harvesters Under Vehicle Loads on Roads

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Assessing On-Site Renewable Energy Potential for Parmigiano Reggiano Production

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Electric Load Forecasting and Management in Smart Grids Using Optimized Long Short-Term Memory Network: A Real-World Evaluation

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages undefined: Renewable Energy Communities in Developing Countries

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Comprehensive Review and Analysis of Soiling Detection Technologies in Solar Panels

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Enhanced Heat Transfer Performance in Tubes Using Double-Twisted Tapes with Integrated Triangle Winglets

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Improving Predictions of Renewable Energy Systems with the Application of Machine Learning Integrated with Explainable AI

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Energy-Saving Behavior in Workplaces: A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: The Role of Smart Technologies in Enhancing Building Energy Efficiency in the Era of Climate Change

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Leveraging Machine Learning Models for Accurate Global Solar Irradiance Prediction in Jerusalem, Palestine

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Optimization of Bioethanol Production from Unripe Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) Pulp Starch Using Response Surface Methodology

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Fuzzy Control of Hybrid Power System to Improve Power Quality

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Comprehensive Review of Building Integrated Photovoltaic and Thermal Systems (BIPV/T)

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Hybrid Power Plant Prototype for Hill Areas: Integrating Solar and Wind Energy with Auto Switching and Monitoring Technology

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Combustion of Granulated Solid Fuels and Wood and Domestic Waste Processing: A Comprehensive Review

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Solar Energy Harvesting and Storage Optimization Using Machine Learning

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Electricity Price Forecasting and Chiller Plant Energy Optimization for Bidding in the Electricity Market

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: The Impact of Engine Speed on Performance and Emission Characteristics of Engine Fueled with Diesel-Water Emulsion

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages undefined: Design and Performance Testing of a Solar Power Generation System (SPGS) for a Smart Greenhouse with Tower Hydroponic Support

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Inhibitors for Corrosion by H2S and the Effects on Oil Pipelines: Bibliometric Analysis

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Transmission Line Expansion Planning in a Deregulated Environment

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Harnessing Ocean Wave Energy to Assess Oscillating Water Column Efficiency in Indonesian Waters

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Prediction Model Based on Neural Networks to Optimize Thermal Efficiency and Emission Control in Firetube Boilers

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Thermoelectric Characteristics of Bi2S3-Based Sandwich Materials

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Crude Oil and Economic Performance: Multicollinearity Corrected Approach

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: An Empirical Analysis of the Impact of Industry, Service Sectors, Urbanization, Exports, and Inflation on Energy Consumption: The Static and Dynamic Panel Model Approaches

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Waste to Wealth by Oil Blending from Restaurants Waste and Mixing with Diesel and Butanol to Improve the Ternary Fuel Characteristics

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Comparative Analysis of Forecasting Models for Solar Wind Patterns: A Focus on Smoothing CNN-LSTM and a Hybrid Approach

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Influence of Aluminium Anode Nanostructure on Ionic Conductivity and Battery Capacity

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Thermal and Electrical Performance of the PV Panels in the Presence of Soot Particles and Dust: An Experimental Study

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Enhanced Production Management in Energy Storage: Parameter Estimation and Modeling of Lithium-Ion Batteries under Dynamic Loads

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Nano-Fluid Cooled Condenser in Air Conditioning for Energy Conservation

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: An Assessment of the Dynamic Behaviors of a Counterflow Heat Exchanger Under Variable Thermophysical Properties of Thermal Fluids

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Enhancing Solar PV System Performance in Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Sarishabari Solar Plant and Strategic Recommendations

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: A Metaheuristic Optimization Technique for Maximum Power Extraction in Solar Photovoltaic Systems under Partial Shading

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Biomedical Simulation of Non-Newtonian Fluid Dynamics in Cardiovascular Systems: A Finite Volume Method Approach to Pulsatile Flow and Atherosclerosis Analysis

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Numerical Analysis of Horizontal Geothermal Heat Exchanger at Various Burial Depths for Solar PV/T Cooling in South Iraq Weather

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Optimizing Electrical Energy Management in Apartment Buildings Through Ensemble Neural Network Prediction Model

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Techno-Economic Evaluation of Hybrid Solar-Wind Power Plant for Generating Electricity at Toll Merak Rest Area Electric Vehicle Charging Station

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Opportunities for the Development and Management of Low-Carbon Energy Production in Russian District Heating Facilities Using Hydro-Steam Turbine Installations

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Navigating Complexity of Risk Management Disclosure in the Energy Insurance Industry Using ISO 31000 Framework Analysis

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2024, Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages undefined: Modeling of Energy-Autonomous and Sustainable Solar DTN Nodes and Their Impacts on the Performances of DTN Networks in the Context of Different Mobility Models and DTN Routing Protocols

International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 2025, Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages undefined: Thermoelectric Characteristics of Bi₂S₃-Based Sandwich Materials