Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100461
Cássio Almeida , Paloma Jackson , Rafael Vicentini , Eric L. Pereira , Erick Santos , Leonardo Morais Da Silva , Davi M. Soares , Hudson Zanin
Pursuing pseudocapacitive materials with higher energy densities for future electrochemical energy storage systems requires a comprehensive understanding of material and electrochemical properties. In addition to charge-storage mechanisms in the active material, the electrolyte medium plays an important role in energy density. Organic solvent electrolytes exhibit a wider operating voltage window in comparison to aqueous-based electrolytes, yet the investigation of pseudocapacitive active materials in supercapacitor electrodes remains underexplored. Here, we report a facile and scalable synthesis of the pseudocapacitive composite material NiO-activated carbon (AC) as a supercapacitor electrode. A comprehensive electrochemical study in the organic solvent medium is presented, elucidating the pseudocapacitive properties of NiO-AC, assessing the stable working voltage window in an organic solvent medium, and investigating ion dynamics during charge via operando Raman. Using electrochemical characterization techniques, such as single-step chronoamperometry (SSC), and the in-situ Raman results we showed that the synthesized material (NiO-AC) is stable for operation at 2.6 V. NiO-AC, presenting specific power of 23.7 kW kg−1 and specific energy of 21.4 W h kg−1, with a capacitance increase due to the contribution of the NiO species, highlighting the potential of the study of pseudocapacitive materials in organic electrolyte systems.
为未来的电化学储能系统寻求具有更高能量密度的赝电容材料需要对材料和电化学特性有全面的了解。除了活性材料中的电荷存储机制外，电解质介质在能量密度中起着重要作用。与水基电解质相比，有机溶剂电解质具有更宽的工作电压窗口，但对超级电容器电极中假电容活性材料的研究仍未得到充分探索。在这里，我们报告了一种简单且可扩展的假电容复合材料nio -活性炭（AC）作为超级电容器电极的合成。在有机溶剂介质中进行了全面的电化学研究，阐明了NiO-AC的赝电容特性，评估了有机溶剂介质中的稳定工作电压窗，并通过operando Raman研究了充电过程中的离子动力学。利用电化学表征技术，如单步计时安培法（SSC）和原位拉曼结果，我们表明合成材料（NiO-AC）在2.6 V下稳定运行。NiO- ac的比功率为23.7 kW kg−1，比能量为21.4 W h kg−1，由于NiO物质的贡献，电容增加，突出了有机电解质体系中赝电容材料研究的潜力。
{"title":"Charge and energy storage properties of NiO-AC composites in organic electrolyte using operando Raman and distributed capacitance analyses in the time domain","authors":"Cássio Almeida , Paloma Jackson , Rafael Vicentini , Eric L. Pereira , Erick Santos , Leonardo Morais Da Silva , Davi M. Soares , Hudson Zanin","doi":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100461","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100461","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pursuing pseudocapacitive materials with higher energy densities for future electrochemical energy storage systems requires a comprehensive understanding of material and electrochemical properties. In addition to charge-storage mechanisms in the active material, the electrolyte medium plays an important role in energy density. Organic solvent electrolytes exhibit a wider operating voltage window in comparison to aqueous-based electrolytes, yet the investigation of pseudocapacitive active materials in supercapacitor electrodes remains underexplored. Here, we report a facile and scalable synthesis of the pseudocapacitive composite material NiO-activated carbon (AC) as a supercapacitor electrode. A comprehensive electrochemical study in the organic solvent medium is presented, elucidating the pseudocapacitive properties of NiO-AC, assessing the stable working voltage window in an organic solvent medium, and investigating ion dynamics during charge via operando Raman. Using electrochemical characterization techniques, such as single-step chronoamperometry (SSC), and the in-situ Raman results we showed that the synthesized material (NiO-AC) is stable for operation at 2.6 V. NiO-AC, presenting specific power of 23.7 kW kg<sup>−1</sup> and specific energy of 21.4 W h kg<sup>−1</sup>, with a capacitance increase due to the contribution of the NiO species, highlighting the potential of the study of pseudocapacitive materials in organic electrolyte systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100957,"journal":{"name":"Next Energy","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100461"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145332208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study presents the modeling, design, and simulation of a DC-DC power processing circuit for building-attached photovoltaic (BAPV) systems. With the growing integration of solar energy into urban infrastructure, efficient power conversion becomes essential for maximizing energy yield and ensuring reliable operation. The converter topology features maximum power point tracking (MPPT) using the incremental conductance (IC) algorithm combined with a proportional-integral (PI) controller. This design addresses the dynamic irradiance and partial shading conditions that are common in building-mounted PV modules. The comprehensive model integrates solar irradiance profiles, PV module characteristics, and converter control strategies and is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink for performance evaluation. Simulation results show that the system maintains a regulated output voltage of 48 ± 0.4 V across varying irradiance levels, with a voltage ripple limited to 1–3% of the output voltage. The findings demonstrate the circuit’s capability to enhance energy yield, improve operational reliability, and support the development of smart, sustainable urban energy systems.
{"title":"Modeling and simulation-based performance study of a DC-DC power processing circuit for building-attached photovoltaic systems","authors":"Swarna Jyoti Saharia , Asim Datta , Sadhan Mahapatra","doi":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100446","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100446","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents the modeling, design, and simulation of a DC-DC power processing circuit for building-attached photovoltaic (BAPV) systems. With the growing integration of solar energy into urban infrastructure, efficient power conversion becomes essential for maximizing energy yield and ensuring reliable operation. The converter topology features maximum power point tracking (MPPT) using the incremental conductance (IC) algorithm combined with a proportional-integral (PI) controller. This design addresses the dynamic irradiance and partial shading conditions that are common in building-mounted PV modules. The comprehensive model integrates solar irradiance profiles, PV module characteristics, and converter control strategies and is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink for performance evaluation. Simulation results show that the system maintains a regulated output voltage of 48 ± 0.4 V across varying irradiance levels, with a voltage ripple limited to 1–3% of the output voltage. The findings demonstrate the circuit’s capability to enhance energy yield, improve operational reliability, and support the development of smart, sustainable urban energy systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100957,"journal":{"name":"Next Energy","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100446"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100455
A. Hakim, S.P. Chew, T. Azfar, L.S. Supian, A.S. Mokhtar
Photovoltaic (PV) panels are widely used to harvest and convert sunlight (light energy) into electricity and provide electrical energy for a variety of electric applications. A lot of research has been done on these PV solar panels to ensure their maximum electricity generation in an ecofriendly way. Excessive heat buildup can lead to a drop in PV panel efficiency, which results in loss of power output and performance. Traditional cooling techniques, like air and water cooling, are not practical, sustainable, and efficient. In particular, the effectiveness of BIO-PCMs on PV efficiency still needs clarification. This study minimizes that limitation through PVB, which is employed for the thermal management of PV panels in the form of plant-based phase change material (PCM). The Co-PCM is an amalgamation of Cocos nucifera oil and paraffin wax; the thermal conductivity property was evaluated using KD2 Pro thermal analyzer. The main purpose was to evaluate how the CO-PCM affects temperature variations on the PV panel. Results showed that incorporation of the Co-PCM yielded a significant temperature reduction of around 11.4 ℃ on the back side of the PV panel at a 5 mm PCM thickness. Moreover, the experiments showed that the average power density output of the PV panel increased by 51.21 mW/℃ and the overall power efficiency of the PV panel also improved by 12.82% compared to the PV panel without PCM.
光伏（PV）板被广泛用于收集太阳光（光能）并将其转化为电能，为各种电气应用提供电能。人们对这些光伏太阳能电池板进行了大量的研究，以确保它们以一种环保的方式最大限度地发电。过多的热量积累会导致光伏面板效率下降，从而导致功率输出和性能的损失。传统的冷却技术，如空气和水冷却，是不实用的，可持续的，高效的。特别是，BIO-PCMs对光伏效率的影响仍有待澄清。本研究通过PVB最大限度地减少了这一限制，PVB以植物基相变材料（PCM）的形式用于光伏板的热管理。Co-PCM是椰子油和石蜡的混合物；采用KD2 Pro热分析仪对其导热性能进行评价。主要目的是评估CO-PCM如何影响PV面板上的温度变化。结果表明，Co-PCM的掺入使PV板背面在5 mm PCM厚度处的温度显著降低了11.4℃左右。实验结果表明，与未加PCM的光伏板相比，光伏板的平均功率密度输出提高了51.21 mW/℃，整体功率效率提高了12.82%。
{"title":"Experimental investigation to enhance photovoltaic efficiency using coconut oil-infused phase change material as heat sink","authors":"A. Hakim, S.P. Chew, T. Azfar, L.S. Supian, A.S. Mokhtar","doi":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100455","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100455","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Photovoltaic (PV) panels are widely used to harvest and convert sunlight (light energy) into electricity and provide electrical energy for a variety of electric applications. A lot of research has been done on these PV solar panels to ensure their maximum electricity generation in an ecofriendly way. Excessive heat buildup can lead to a drop in PV panel efficiency, which results in loss of power output and performance. Traditional cooling techniques, like air and water cooling, are not practical, sustainable, and efficient. In particular, the effectiveness of BIO-PCMs on PV efficiency still needs clarification. This study minimizes that limitation through PVB, which is employed for the thermal management of PV panels in the form of plant-based phase change material (PCM). The Co-PCM is an amalgamation of Cocos nucifera oil and paraffin wax; the thermal conductivity property was evaluated using KD2 Pro thermal analyzer. The main purpose was to evaluate how the CO-PCM affects temperature variations on the PV panel. Results showed that incorporation of the Co-PCM yielded a significant temperature reduction of around 11.4<!--> <!-->℃ on the back side of the PV panel at a 5 mm PCM thickness. Moreover, the experiments showed that the average power density output of the PV panel increased by 51.21 mW/℃ and the overall power efficiency of the PV panel also improved by 12.82% compared to the PV panel without PCM.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100957,"journal":{"name":"Next Energy","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100455"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145332205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study presents an optimal robust maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system operating under specified operational conditions. The investigated PEMFC system includes a fuel cell with a DC-DC converter, providing a resistive charge. The control scheme combines the robust nonlinear double-integral sliding mode control (DISMC) and the hybrid gray wolf optimizer with bald eagle search (GWO-BES) algorithm. As a novel strategy, the GWO-BES-DISMC controller combines the benefits of double-integral sliding mode methods, where the double-integral term eliminates steady-state error and inherently reduces chattering through the generation of smooth control signals, while optimized controller gains prevent overshoot. The hybrid GWO-BES algorithm optimizes DISMC parameters by leveraging GWO's global search capability to avoid local minima and BES's exploitation strength for precise parameter fine-tuning. Moreover, the GWO-BES technique is employed to optimize the parameters of the DISMC controller. The novelty lies in the first-time integration of hybrid GWO-BES optimization with double-integral sliding mode control for PEMFC systems, addressing chattering elimination and parameter optimization simultaneously. The stability of the controlled PEMFC power system is affirmed through the application of the Lyapunov function. Additionally, several simulations of the proposed GWO-BES-DISMC are investigated and compared to the DISMC and the SMC controllers for operational conditions. The simulation results conclusively demonstrate that the proposed approach exhibits superior robustness with 85.9% faster settling time (0.184 s vs 1.309 s for SMC), 97.4% reduction in steady-state error, and 99.53% efficiency, even with external load variations, while remaining stable without overshoot.
研究了质子交换膜燃料电池（PEMFC）系统在特定运行条件下的最优鲁棒最大功率点跟踪（MPPT）控制。所研究的PEMFC系统包括一个带有DC-DC转换器的燃料电池，提供电阻式充电。该控制方案结合了鲁棒非线性双积分滑模控制（DISMC）和混合灰狼优化与秃鹰搜索（GWO-BES）算法。作为一种新颖的策略，gwo - be - dismc控制器结合了双积分滑模方法的优点，其中双积分项消除了稳态误差，并通过生成平滑控制信号固有地减少了抖振，同时优化的控制器增益防止了超调。GWO-BES混合算法利用GWO的全局搜索能力来避免局部极小值，利用BES的精确参数微调能力来优化DISMC参数。此外，采用GWO-BES技术对DISMC控制器参数进行了优化。其新颖之处在于首次将混合GWO-BES优化与PEMFC系统的双积分滑模控制相结合，同时解决抖振消除和参数优化问题。通过李雅普诺夫函数的应用，验证了可控PEMFC电力系统的稳定性。此外，还研究了所提出的GWO-BES-DISMC的几个仿真，并将其与DISMC和SMC控制器的运行条件进行了比较。仿真结果表明，该方法具有较好的鲁棒性，即使外部负载发生变化，其稳定时间（0.184 s vs 1.309 s）提高了85.9%，稳态误差降低了97.4%，效率降低了99.53%，同时保持了稳定而无超调。
{"title":"An optimized double-integral sliding mode controller based hybrid gray wolf with bald eagle search algorithm for a fuel cell power system","authors":"Issam Bekki , Habiba Rizki , Fatima Ez-Zahra Lamzouri , El-Mahjoub Boufounass , Aumeur El Amrani","doi":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100447","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100447","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents an optimal robust maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system operating under specified operational conditions. The investigated PEMFC system includes a fuel cell with a DC-DC converter, providing a resistive charge. The control scheme combines the robust nonlinear double-integral sliding mode control (DISMC) and the hybrid gray wolf optimizer with bald eagle search (GWO-BES) algorithm. As a novel strategy, the GWO-BES-DISMC controller combines the benefits of double-integral sliding mode methods, where the double-integral term eliminates steady-state error and inherently reduces chattering through the generation of smooth control signals, while optimized controller gains prevent overshoot. The hybrid GWO-BES algorithm optimizes DISMC parameters by leveraging GWO's global search capability to avoid local minima and BES's exploitation strength for precise parameter fine-tuning. Moreover, the GWO-BES technique is employed to optimize the parameters of the DISMC controller. The novelty lies in the first-time integration of hybrid GWO-BES optimization with double-integral sliding mode control for PEMFC systems, addressing chattering elimination and parameter optimization simultaneously. The stability of the controlled PEMFC power system is affirmed through the application of the Lyapunov function. Additionally, several simulations of the proposed GWO-BES-DISMC are investigated and compared to the DISMC and the SMC controllers for operational conditions. The simulation results conclusively demonstrate that the proposed approach exhibits superior robustness with 85.9% faster settling time (0.184 s vs 1.309 s for SMC), 97.4% reduction in steady-state error, and 99.53% efficiency, even with external load variations, while remaining stable without overshoot.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100957,"journal":{"name":"Next Energy","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100447"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145220145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100471
Munna Kumar , Sanjay Kumar , Satyender Singh
Over the last two decades, direct absorption-based Photovoltaic/Thermal system (DAS-PV/T) has emerged as a promising solution considering better thermal management and overall performance enhancement over standalone PV system. However, previous studies reported the testing results either using theoretical models or using laboratory prototypes under controlled conditions or operational parameters. The main bottleneck is that there aren't enough outdoor studies that focuses on thermal performance characterization of direct absorption-based PV/T systems in real-world conditions. Metallic nanoparticles-based nano colloids are proved to be better alternative over conventional cooling fluids such as water, oils or glycols for such DAS-PV/T system. Therefore, for the present work, field experiments are conducted using Al2O3 nanofluids at different mass concentrations (ξNF) and mass flow rates (ϺF) to assess the energetic and energetic performance of a DAS-PV/T system under actual sun setting conditions. Al2O3 nanofluids are characterized for its optical and morphological properties using UV–vis spectrophotometry and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques. The outdoor testing results showed that tested DAS-PV/T system achieved a maximum photo-thermal, electrical and overall thermal efficiency at higher ξNF and ϺF of Al2O3 nanofluids over de-ionized (DI) water. Further an average surface temperature of PV cell was recorded about 56.0 ℃ with Al2O3 nanofluids, which was about 4.5 °C lower than bare PV system. Further, a maximum overall energetic and exergetic efficiency of values 27.54% and 26.41% was achieved for tested DAS-PV/T system using Al2O3 nanofluids at ξNF ∼ 0.0004 wt% and ϺF∼ 0.035 kg/s, respectively. The study concludes that a DAS-PV/T systems is a feasible solution over standalone PV system.
{"title":"Efficacy of aluminium oxide nanofluids in passive cooling of direct absorption-based photovoltaic/thermal system: An experimental approach","authors":"Munna Kumar , Sanjay Kumar , Satyender Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100471","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100471","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the last two decades, direct absorption-based Photovoltaic/Thermal system (DAS-PV/T) has emerged as a promising solution considering better thermal management and overall performance enhancement over standalone PV system. However, previous studies reported the testing results either using theoretical models or using laboratory prototypes under controlled conditions or operational parameters. The main bottleneck is that there aren't enough outdoor studies that focuses on thermal performance characterization of direct absorption-based PV/T systems in real-world conditions. Metallic nanoparticles-based nano colloids are proved to be better alternative over conventional cooling fluids such as water, oils or glycols for such DAS-PV/T system. Therefore, for the present work, field experiments are conducted using Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanofluids at different mass concentrations (<em>ξ</em><sub><em>NF</em></sub>) and mass flow rates (<em>Ϻ</em><sub><em>F</em></sub><em>)</em> to assess the energetic and energetic performance of a DAS-PV/T system under actual sun setting conditions. Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanofluids are characterized for its optical and morphological properties using UV–vis spectrophotometry and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques. The outdoor testing results showed that tested DAS-PV/T system achieved a maximum photo-thermal, electrical and overall thermal efficiency at higher <em>ξ</em><sub><em>NF</em></sub> and <em>Ϻ</em><sub><em>F</em></sub> of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanofluids over de-ionized (DI) water. Further an average surface temperature of PV cell was recorded about 56.0<!--> <!-->℃ with Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanofluids, which was about 4.5<!--> <!-->°C lower than bare PV system. Further, a maximum overall energetic and exergetic efficiency of values 27.54% and 26.41% was achieved for tested DAS-PV/T system using Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanofluids at <em>ξ</em><sub><em>NF</em></sub> ∼ 0.0004 wt% and <em>Ϻ</em><sub><em>F</em></sub> <em>∼</em> 0.035 kg/s, respectively. The study concludes that a DAS-PV/T systems is a feasible solution over standalone PV system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100957,"journal":{"name":"Next Energy","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100471"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145424572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100457
Burak İzgi
Thermal control is crucial for ensuring the reliable operation and longevity of electronic devices in microsatellites. Phase change materials (PCMs) offer a promising solution for efficient thermal management in such applications. This study provides a systematic framework for optimizing the mass and volume of PCM-based thermal control units by coupling a comparative analysis of various PCM-filler combinations with a robust Sobol sensitivity analysis. The investigation reveals a critical trade-off between mass and volume. Specifically, configurations using PlusICE with graphite, aluminum, or copper fillers yield the most compact (lowest volume) designs, while glycerol paired with the same high-conductivity fillers provides the most lightweight (lowest mass) solutions among the Pareto-optimal configurations. Conversely, using an inefficient filler like carbon steel can increase total system mass by up to 86% and volume by 74% compared to a graphite-enhanced system, highlighting the critical impact of filler selection. Crucially, the sensitivity analysis quantitatively identifies the primary design drivers: The PCM's latent heat of fusion is the most influential parameter for system mass (total sensitivity index, ST = 0.36), while PCM density is the dominant factor for system volume (ST = 0.81). These findings offer clear, actionable guidelines for engineers, enabling a data-driven approach to material selection and the design of efficient thermal management systems for resource-constrained satellite missions.
{"title":"Mass and volume optimization of PCM-based thermal control for microsatellites: A parametric and sensitivity analysis","authors":"Burak İzgi","doi":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100457","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100457","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermal control is crucial for ensuring the reliable operation and longevity of electronic devices in microsatellites. Phase change materials (PCMs) offer a promising solution for efficient thermal management in such applications. This study provides a systematic framework for optimizing the mass and volume of PCM-based thermal control units by coupling a comparative analysis of various PCM-filler combinations with a robust Sobol sensitivity analysis. The investigation reveals a critical trade-off between mass and volume. Specifically, configurations using PlusICE with graphite, aluminum, or copper fillers yield the most compact (lowest volume) designs, while glycerol paired with the same high-conductivity fillers provides the most lightweight (lowest mass) solutions among the Pareto-optimal configurations. Conversely, using an inefficient filler like carbon steel can increase total system mass by up to 86% and volume by 74% compared to a graphite-enhanced system, highlighting the critical impact of filler selection. Crucially, the sensitivity analysis quantitatively identifies the primary design drivers: The PCM's latent heat of fusion is the most influential parameter for system mass (total sensitivity index, ST = 0.36), while PCM density is the dominant factor for system volume (ST = 0.81). These findings offer clear, actionable guidelines for engineers, enabling a data-driven approach to material selection and the design of efficient thermal management systems for resource-constrained satellite missions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100957,"journal":{"name":"Next Energy","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100457"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100458
David Abutu , Hafizuddin Wan Yussof , Peter Ikechukwu Nwaichi , Chika Umunnawuike , Francis Nyah , Barima Money , Augustine Agi
Hydrocarbon reservoirs are a rich source of carbon hosting various microorganisms. Many of these reservoirs have reached the late stage of their production, however, a sizeable amount of the initial oil in place is still left unrecovered at abandonment. These depleted reservoirs contain a significant amount of organic matter in the form of residual oil which can be exploited for hydrogen production. Therefore, the objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive review of the strategies to improve hydrogen production from depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs for sustainable energy transition. Herein the different pathways of hydrogen production from depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs were discussed. Likewise, the factors affecting hydrogen production were identified and elucidated. Furthermore, strategies to improve hydrogen production were presented. Also, field applications were reviewed. Finally, the challenges to be encountered during hydrogen production that might hinder the successful energy transition have brought to light novel concepts for research which are highlighted herewith proffered technical solutions. Laboratory studies have shown that hydrogen production from hydrocarbon reservoirs can be enhanced using innovative strategies that incorporate bacteria and immobilization, surfactants, nanoparticles, nutrient injection and gene manipulation. Thus, it can be concluded that with proper optimization strategies, biohydrogen production from depleted reservoirs could significantly contribute to meeting energy demands while reducing carbon emissions and repurposing unused hydrocarbon assets.
{"title":"Biohydrogen production and storage from depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs: A review of the strategies to improve biohydrogen production for sustainable energy transition","authors":"David Abutu , Hafizuddin Wan Yussof , Peter Ikechukwu Nwaichi , Chika Umunnawuike , Francis Nyah , Barima Money , Augustine Agi","doi":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100458","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100458","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrocarbon reservoirs are a rich source of carbon hosting various microorganisms. Many of these reservoirs have reached the late stage of their production, however, a sizeable amount of the initial oil in place is still left unrecovered at abandonment. These depleted reservoirs contain a significant amount of organic matter in the form of residual oil which can be exploited for hydrogen production. Therefore, the objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive review of the strategies to improve hydrogen production from depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs for sustainable energy transition. Herein the different pathways of hydrogen production from depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs were discussed. Likewise, the factors affecting hydrogen production were identified and elucidated. Furthermore, strategies to improve hydrogen production were presented. Also, field applications were reviewed. Finally, the challenges to be encountered during hydrogen production that might hinder the successful energy transition have brought to light novel concepts for research which are highlighted herewith proffered technical solutions. Laboratory studies have shown that hydrogen production from hydrocarbon reservoirs can be enhanced using innovative strategies that incorporate bacteria and immobilization, surfactants, nanoparticles, nutrient injection and gene manipulation. Thus, it can be concluded that with proper optimization strategies, biohydrogen production from depleted reservoirs could significantly contribute to meeting energy demands while reducing carbon emissions and repurposing unused hydrocarbon assets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100957,"journal":{"name":"Next Energy","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100458"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145332341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A photovoltaic (PV) module’s cells only transform the visible and ultraviolet rays of the solar spectrum into electrical energy, while the infrared portion of the spectrum significantly damages silicon-based PV technology. While passive cooling with phase change materials (PCMs) is a promising solution, many applications suffer from premature melting, rendering them ineffective during peak solar hours. This study analyzes the thermal response of a ternary PCM (MA-PA-SA) providing position specific insights into the PCM behavior by embedding thermocouples in 8 sealed aluminum units affixed to a PV module to examine spatial melting under real outdoor conditions while maintaining free convection. The MA-PA-SA mixture characterized using a range of analytical techniques such as DSC, DTC, XRD, and FTIR. Results indicated that edge located blocks exhibited delayed melting, which contributed to improved thermal regulation during peak hours. Thermal imaging confirmed a uniform temperature distribution, revealing a maximum temperature difference of 0.64 °C between regions covered and uncovered by PCM. The PVPCM module showed a 0.32 V increment, with a maximum average power gain of 4.16%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the delayed-onset melting strategy for peak hour thermal management. These findings offer insights into optimizing PCM placement and melting characteristics for enhancing PV panel performance under outdoor conditions.
{"title":"Enhancing peak hour photovoltaic performance via a delayed onset melting strategy with spatially distributed PCM","authors":"Ayesha Khan , Shayan Umar , Nadia Shahzad , Adeel Waqas","doi":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100469","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100469","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A photovoltaic (PV) module’s cells only transform the visible and ultraviolet rays of the solar spectrum into electrical energy, while the infrared portion of the spectrum significantly damages silicon-based PV technology. While passive cooling with phase change materials (PCMs) is a promising solution, many applications suffer from premature melting, rendering them ineffective during peak solar hours. This study analyzes the thermal response of a ternary PCM (MA-PA-SA) providing position specific insights into the PCM behavior by embedding thermocouples in 8 sealed aluminum units affixed to a PV module to examine spatial melting under real outdoor conditions while maintaining free convection. The MA-PA-SA mixture characterized using a range of analytical techniques such as DSC, DTC, XRD, and FTIR. Results indicated that edge located blocks exhibited delayed melting, which contributed to improved thermal regulation during peak hours. Thermal imaging confirmed a uniform temperature distribution, revealing a maximum temperature difference of 0.64 °C between regions covered and uncovered by PCM. The PV<sub>PCM</sub> module showed a 0.32 V increment, with a maximum average power gain of 4.16%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the delayed-onset melting strategy for peak hour thermal management. These findings offer insights into optimizing PCM placement and melting characteristics for enhancing PV panel performance under outdoor conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100957,"journal":{"name":"Next Energy","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100469"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145332343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100459
Ghazi Mohamed
This work presents a comprehensive study of an existing sulfuric acid production plant, combining modeling, parametric analysis, genetic algorithm optimization, and exergy analysis to maximize its overall performance. The results show that optimizing chemical, energy and exergy performances at the same time is difficult, with initial improvements of 0.21% reduction in total heat exchanger network size, 4.51% increase in turbine work power output, 2.06% increase in thermal power recovery, 0.03% increase in SO2 conversion rate, and 1.25% reduction in total exergy destruction. However, a new configuration of the heat exchanger network is proposed, which leads to further improvements, including a 4.22% reduction in total heat exchanger network size, 9.28% increase in turbine work power output, 1.85% increase in thermal power recovery, 0.02% increase in SO2 conversion rate, and 19.13% reduction in exergy destruction.
{"title":"Improving performances of sulfuric acid production process through genetic optimization and exergy analysis","authors":"Ghazi Mohamed","doi":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100459","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100459","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work presents a comprehensive study of an existing sulfuric acid production plant, combining modeling, parametric analysis, genetic algorithm optimization, and exergy analysis to maximize its overall performance. The results show that optimizing chemical, energy and exergy performances at the same time is difficult, with initial improvements of 0.21% reduction in total heat exchanger network size, 4.51% increase in turbine work power output, 2.06% increase in thermal power recovery, 0.03% increase in SO<sub>2</sub> conversion rate, and 1.25% reduction in total exergy destruction. However, a new configuration of the heat exchanger network is proposed, which leads to further improvements, including a 4.22% reduction in total heat exchanger network size, 9.28% increase in turbine work power output, 1.85% increase in thermal power recovery, 0.02% increase in SO<sub>2</sub> conversion rate, and 19.13% reduction in exergy destruction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100957,"journal":{"name":"Next Energy","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100459"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145332204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100472
Alok Kumar, Arun Kumar
Renewable energies are unable to provide power continuously as a result of their intermittent availability. To deal with this, thermal energy storage (TES) systems can be used utilizing phase change materials. Shell and finned-tube configurations are considered the most effective ways to transport heat and can be used in a wider range of engineering applications. The storage of thermal energy ensures system stability, power reliability, and financial feasibility, as it is a crucial component of numerous domestic and industrial processes in the power generation systems. The performance of a Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) system is significantly influenced by the fin configuration and phase change materials of the system. Existing design studies have a constrained design space and limitations, so rarely utilized in the LHTES unit. The present study introduced a novel discus-mesh-shaped fin configuration and numerically investigated the heat transfer mechanism in a vertical shell and multi-finned-tube TES unit, aiming to enhance the energy storage rate during the charging process. The transient temperature distribution along the tube length, melting time, and dynamic changes of the liquid fraction in the discus-mesh-shaped fins configuration of the LHTES unit were investigated at variable heat transfer fluid temperature and mass flow rate. It was found that the percentage reduction in melting time was 13.1 and 12.5% for the discus mesh fins unit in comparison to the system without fins in case 1, case 2, case 3, and case 4 of the study, respectively. Also, it has been found that the heat transfer rate is 0.103, 0.11, 0.106 and 0.113 kJ/sec for the system without fins and 0.119, 0.125, 0.121 and 0.13 kJ/sec for the system with discus mesh fins in case 1, case 2, case 3, and case 4 of the study, respectively. The highest PCM temperatures are obtained 8%, 11%, 8%, and 8% higher for the discus mesh fin system in comparison to the system without fins in case-1, case-2, case-3, and case-4 of the study. The PCM temperature rises with an increase in temperature or mass flow rate of HTF. The best performance of the VLHTES system, i.e., the lowest melting time and highest PCM temperature, is obtained for 95°C HTF temperature and 0.0018 kg/sec HTF mass flow rate for the system with the discus-mesh fins.
{"title":"Enhancing heat transport performance of latent heat thermal energy storage systems with discus mesh fins","authors":"Alok Kumar, Arun Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100472","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100472","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Renewable energies are unable to provide power continuously as a result of their intermittent availability. To deal with this, thermal energy storage (TES) systems can be used utilizing phase change materials. Shell and finned-tube configurations are considered the most effective ways to transport heat and can be used in a wider range of engineering applications. The storage of thermal energy ensures system stability, power reliability, and financial feasibility, as it is a crucial component of numerous domestic and industrial processes in the power generation systems. The performance of a Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) system is significantly influenced by the fin configuration and phase change materials of the system. Existing design studies have a constrained design space and limitations, so rarely utilized in the LHTES unit. The present study introduced a novel discus-mesh-shaped fin configuration and numerically investigated the heat transfer mechanism in a vertical shell and multi-finned-tube TES unit, aiming to enhance the energy storage rate during the charging process. The transient temperature distribution along the tube length, melting time, and dynamic changes of the liquid fraction in the discus-mesh-shaped fins configuration of the LHTES unit were investigated at variable heat transfer fluid temperature and mass flow rate. It was found that the percentage reduction in melting time was 13.1 and 12.5% for the discus mesh fins unit in comparison to the system without fins in case 1, case 2, case 3, and case 4 of the study, respectively. Also, it has been found that the heat transfer rate is 0.103, 0.11, 0.106 and 0.113 kJ/sec for the system without fins and 0.119, 0.125, 0.121 and 0.13 kJ/sec for the system with discus mesh fins in case 1, case 2, case 3, and case 4 of the study, respectively. The highest PCM temperatures are obtained 8%, 11%, 8%, and 8% higher for the discus mesh fin system in comparison to the system without fins in case-1, case-2, case-3, and case-4 of the study. The PCM temperature rises with an increase in temperature or mass flow rate of HTF. The best performance of the VLHTES system, i.e., the lowest melting time and highest PCM temperature, is obtained for 95°C HTF temperature and 0.0018 kg/sec HTF mass flow rate for the system with the discus-mesh fins.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100957,"journal":{"name":"Next Energy","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100472"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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