While ethanol use as a vehicle fuel has been promoted as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels, current production methods of ethanol from corn feedstock rely heavily on the combustion of nonrenewable fuels such as natural gas. Solar thermal systems can provide a renewable energy source for supplying some of the heat required ethanol production. In this paper, a model to analyze the feasibility of using solar thermal energy to reduce natural gas consumption in ethanol production is described and applied. Sites of current ethanol production facilities are used to provide a realistic analysis of the economic feasibility of using solar thermal energy in the ethanol production process. The results show that it is not reasonable to expect to replace all of the natural gas consumption in the heating processes in ethanol production but that application of solar thermal energy can be applied to a specific subsystem such as the preheating of boiler makeup water. Profitability of systems for replacing a fraction of the natural gas is analyzed. It is found that both location and local natural gas prices are important in determining whether to pursue such a project and that solar thermal systems should have long-term profitability.
{"title":"Modeling the Feasibility of Using Solar Thermal Systems for Meeting the Heating Requirements at Corn Ethanol Production Facilities","authors":"Elizabeth Ehrke, J. Reisel","doi":"10.1155/2018/6436272","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6436272","url":null,"abstract":"While ethanol use as a vehicle fuel has been promoted as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels, current production methods of ethanol from corn feedstock rely heavily on the combustion of nonrenewable fuels such as natural gas. Solar thermal systems can provide a renewable energy source for supplying some of the heat required ethanol production. In this paper, a model to analyze the feasibility of using solar thermal energy to reduce natural gas consumption in ethanol production is described and applied. Sites of current ethanol production facilities are used to provide a realistic analysis of the economic feasibility of using solar thermal energy in the ethanol production process. The results show that it is not reasonable to expect to replace all of the natural gas consumption in the heating processes in ethanol production but that application of solar thermal energy can be applied to a specific subsystem such as the preheating of boiler makeup water. Profitability of systems for replacing a fraction of the natural gas is analyzed. It is found that both location and local natural gas prices are important in determining whether to pursue such a project and that solar thermal systems should have long-term profitability.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82566257","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}
Households play a crucial role in the transition of the energy system. They can make major contributions to sustainable development by adopting “green” innovations since such actions have a substantial impact on overall energy consumption. Theory suggests that innovations are first adopted by persons with specific dispositions, i.e., people with a high level of technical interest, relevant knowledge, and proenvironmental orientation. As an innovation spreads, early adopters yield social influences on others encouraging them to adopt, too. In theory, such effects should be found regardless of the nature of the innovation. We compared three green investments (residential insulation, solar thermal energy systems, and e-cars) at different diffusion stages in Germany. In three experiments, decision-makers in households were asked for their willingness to adopt the innovations; their dispositions and perceived social influences were measured in questionnaires. Social influences were found to affect all innovation adoptions while dispositions showed specific effects: technical interest was found to affect e-car and solar thermal energy adoptions; a proenvironmental value orientation only affected residential insulation. We conclude that it is worthwhile to shape policy measures to the innovation characteristics. However, social influences should always be taken in account.
{"title":"How Households Adopt Sustainable Innovations? A Free Decision Enforced by Others","authors":"I. Kastner, Sebastian Bobeth","doi":"10.1155/2018/8960372","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8960372","url":null,"abstract":"Households play a crucial role in the transition of the energy system. They can make major contributions to sustainable development by adopting “green” innovations since such actions have a substantial impact on overall energy consumption. Theory suggests that innovations are first adopted by persons with specific dispositions, i.e., people with a high level of technical interest, relevant knowledge, and proenvironmental orientation. As an innovation spreads, early adopters yield social influences on others encouraging them to adopt, too. In theory, such effects should be found regardless of the nature of the innovation. We compared three green investments (residential insulation, solar thermal energy systems, and e-cars) at different diffusion stages in Germany. In three experiments, decision-makers in households were asked for their willingness to adopt the innovations; their dispositions and perceived social influences were measured in questionnaires. Social influences were found to affect all innovation adoptions while dispositions showed specific effects: technical interest was found to affect e-car and solar thermal energy adoptions; a proenvironmental value orientation only affected residential insulation. We conclude that it is worthwhile to shape policy measures to the innovation characteristics. However, social influences should always be taken in account.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75543753","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}
Proper functioning of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is important for efficient thermal management, as well as operational costs. Most of these systems use nonlinear time variances to handle disturbances, along with controllers that try to balance rise times and stability. The latest generation of fuzzy logic controllers (FLC) is algorithm-based and is used to control indoor temperatures, CO2 concentrations in air handling units (AHUs), and fan speeds. These types of controllers work through the manipulation of dampers, fans, and valves to adjust flow rates of water and air. In this paper, modulating equal percentage globe valves, fans speed, and dampers position have been modeled according to exact flow rates of hot water and air into the building, and a new approach to adapting FLC through the modification of fuzzy rules surface is presented. The novel system is a redesign of an FLC using MATLAB/Simulink, with the results showing an enhancement in thermal comfort levels.
{"title":"Modeling, Analysis, and Design of a Fuzzy Logic Controller for an AHU in the S.J. Carew Building at Memorial University","authors":"Almahdi Abdo-Allah, T. Iqbal, K. Pope","doi":"10.1155/2018/4540387","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4540387","url":null,"abstract":"Proper functioning of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is important for efficient thermal management, as well as operational costs. Most of these systems use nonlinear time variances to handle disturbances, along with controllers that try to balance rise times and stability. The latest generation of fuzzy logic controllers (FLC) is algorithm-based and is used to control indoor temperatures, CO2 concentrations in air handling units (AHUs), and fan speeds. These types of controllers work through the manipulation of dampers, fans, and valves to adjust flow rates of water and air. In this paper, modulating equal percentage globe valves, fans speed, and dampers position have been modeled according to exact flow rates of hot water and air into the building, and a new approach to adapting FLC through the modification of fuzzy rules surface is presented. The novel system is a redesign of an FLC using MATLAB/Simulink, with the results showing an enhancement in thermal comfort levels.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80475565","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}
I. McKinley, S. Masuda, S. Hardie, H. Umeki, M. Naito, H. Takase
The Japanese geological disposal programme for radioactive waste is based on a volunteering approach to siting, which places particular emphasis on the need for public acceptance. This, as established in law, emphasises the development of a repository project as a partnership with local communities and involves stakeholders in important decisions associated with key milestones in the selection of repository sites and subsequent construction, operation, and closure. To date, however, repository concept development has proceeded in a more traditional manner, focusing particularly on ease of developing a post-closure safety case. In the current project, we have attempted to go further by assessing what requirements stakeholders would place on a repository and assessing how these could be used to rethink repository designs so that they meet the desires of the public without compromising critical operational or long-term safety.
{"title":"Public Acceptance as a Driver for Repository Design","authors":"I. McKinley, S. Masuda, S. Hardie, H. Umeki, M. Naito, H. Takase","doi":"10.1155/2018/7546158","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/7546158","url":null,"abstract":"The Japanese geological disposal programme for radioactive waste is based on a volunteering approach to siting, which places particular emphasis on the need for public acceptance. This, as established in law, emphasises the development of a repository project as a partnership with local communities and involves stakeholders in important decisions associated with key milestones in the selection of repository sites and subsequent construction, operation, and closure. To date, however, repository concept development has proceeded in a more traditional manner, focusing particularly on ease of developing a post-closure safety case. In the current project, we have attempted to go further by assessing what requirements stakeholders would place on a repository and assessing how these could be used to rethink repository designs so that they meet the desires of the public without compromising critical operational or long-term safety.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83676720","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 paper provides empirical evidence and theoretical grounds to support the existence of energy cost constants, i.e., relatively stable energy costs to income ratios, not only country-wide, but also in major energy end-use sectors. These ratios are similar across different countries at different stages of economic development, but they also depend on the country-specific economy structure and legacy of previous long-standing energy pricing, taxes, and subsidies policies, which it takes time to shift from. The aggregated country-wide energy costs constant (range) is a linear combination of those for sectors weighted by the contributions of respective sectors’ income indicators to either gross output or GDP. Deviation of energy costs shares from the constrained range is possible but limited. The “rule of gravitation” goes: for the whole cycle real energy prices in each sector may grow only as much as energy intensity declines, and inversely promoting energy efficiency can be viewed as a policy, of which the environmental cobenefits will be undermined by rebound effects, unless it is accompanied by rising energy prices.
{"title":"“Minus 1” and Energy Costs Constants: Sectorial Implications","authors":"I. Bashmakov, A. Myshak","doi":"10.1155/2018/8962437","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8962437","url":null,"abstract":"This paper provides empirical evidence and theoretical grounds to support the existence of energy cost constants, i.e., relatively stable energy costs to income ratios, not only country-wide, but also in major energy end-use sectors. These ratios are similar across different countries at different stages of economic development, but they also depend on the country-specific economy structure and legacy of previous long-standing energy pricing, taxes, and subsidies policies, which it takes time to shift from. The aggregated country-wide energy costs constant (range) is a linear combination of those for sectors weighted by the contributions of respective sectors’ income indicators to either gross output or GDP. Deviation of energy costs shares from the constrained range is possible but limited. The “rule of gravitation” goes: for the whole cycle real energy prices in each sector may grow only as much as energy intensity declines, and inversely promoting energy efficiency can be viewed as a policy, of which the environmental cobenefits will be undermined by rebound effects, unless it is accompanied by rising energy prices.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"246 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85621438","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}
D. Baris, H. Gehrmann, M. Meiller, F. Müller, S. Vodegel
Within a national funded Brazilian-German cooperation project ASHES, the thermal utilization of bagasse and other residuals from the sugar processing industry was examined. The characterization of the ashes was also performed but it is not in the focus of this paper. To determine the relevant combustion parameters, tests were carried out in a laboratory-scale, fixed bed reactor (KLEAA) at KIT-ITC. Subsequently, Fraunhofer UMSICHT carried out tests in continuously operated combustion plants with different plant sizes of 30 kW, 100 kW, and 440 kW. All relevant compositions were analyzed by CUTEC. The primary objective was to gain knowledge regarding the combustion and emission behavior of the fuels. These findings were used to identify optimization potentials at various points and elaborate concepts for their improvement. In the next steps of the project, optimization of these concepts will be the focus. In cooperation with the Brazilian project partners, several of them should be implemented into practice after the project.
{"title":"Improvement of Thermal Processes for Using Residues from Bioethanol and Sugar Production in Brazil: Experiments and Proposed Optimization Measures","authors":"D. Baris, H. Gehrmann, M. Meiller, F. Müller, S. Vodegel","doi":"10.1155/2018/2420439","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/2420439","url":null,"abstract":"Within a national funded Brazilian-German cooperation project ASHES, the thermal utilization of bagasse and other residuals from the sugar processing industry was examined. The characterization of the ashes was also performed but it is not in the focus of this paper. To determine the relevant combustion parameters, tests were carried out in a laboratory-scale, fixed bed reactor (KLEAA) at KIT-ITC. Subsequently, Fraunhofer UMSICHT carried out tests in continuously operated combustion plants with different plant sizes of 30 kW, 100 kW, and 440 kW. All relevant compositions were analyzed by CUTEC. The primary objective was to gain knowledge regarding the combustion and emission behavior of the fuels. These findings were used to identify optimization potentials at various points and elaborate concepts for their improvement. In the next steps of the project, optimization of these concepts will be the focus. In cooperation with the Brazilian project partners, several of them should be implemented into practice after the project.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73148554","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}
Eric Abokyi, P. Appiah-Konadu, Isaiah Sikayena, E. F. Oteng-Abayie
We examine the causative relationship amongst electricity consumption and industrial growth in Ghana for the period of 1971 to 2014. The results of the ARDL bounds test showed that long-run relationship exists among the variables. The error correction term was also significant and negatively signed providing further evidence of long-run relationship. Contrary to the widespread belief that electricity consumption spurs productivity, the study reveals that electricity consumption has a negative impact on manufacturing sector output in Ghana. This occurrence could be explained by the fact that whiles the average growth in electricity consumption in Ghana is positive, the share of industrial sector’s electricity consumption continues to decline on the average. The Toda-Yamamoto test shows a unidirectional causality running from electricity consumption to industrial growth in Ghana, supporting the growth hypothesis in the extant literature.
{"title":"Consumption of Electricity and Industrial Growth in the Case of Ghana","authors":"Eric Abokyi, P. Appiah-Konadu, Isaiah Sikayena, E. F. Oteng-Abayie","doi":"10.1155/2018/8924835","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8924835","url":null,"abstract":"We examine the causative relationship amongst electricity consumption and industrial growth in Ghana for the period of 1971 to 2014. The results of the ARDL bounds test showed that long-run relationship exists among the variables. The error correction term was also significant and negatively signed providing further evidence of long-run relationship. Contrary to the widespread belief that electricity consumption spurs productivity, the study reveals that electricity consumption has a negative impact on manufacturing sector output in Ghana. This occurrence could be explained by the fact that whiles the average growth in electricity consumption in Ghana is positive, the share of industrial sector’s electricity consumption continues to decline on the average. The Toda-Yamamoto test shows a unidirectional causality running from electricity consumption to industrial growth in Ghana, supporting the growth hypothesis in the extant literature.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87340839","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 paper reports the study of an anode-supported SOFC cell containing an LSCF-SDC composite cathode. The SOFC cell was tested at different temperatures and reactant flow rates. After testing, the cell was sectioned and characterized using SEM/EDS. Such analysis indicated that no structural damage and no significant interdiffusion of elements among the layers occurred. The measured electrochemical performance data at different temperatures indicate an Arrhenius behavior or temperature activated processes. The low-porosity anode functional layer appears to be very sensitive to low hydrogen contents. The electrochemical performance is also affected by changing air flow rates.
{"title":"Characterization of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with LSCF-SDC Composite Cathodes","authors":"G. DiGiuseppe, V. Boddapati","doi":"10.1155/2018/4041960","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4041960","url":null,"abstract":"This paper reports the study of an anode-supported SOFC cell containing an LSCF-SDC composite cathode. The SOFC cell was tested at different temperatures and reactant flow rates. After testing, the cell was sectioned and characterized using SEM/EDS. Such analysis indicated that no structural damage and no significant interdiffusion of elements among the layers occurred. The measured electrochemical performance data at different temperatures indicate an Arrhenius behavior or temperature activated processes. The low-porosity anode functional layer appears to be very sensitive to low hydrogen contents. The electrochemical performance is also affected by changing air flow rates.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"115 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79084945","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 HVAC system is modeled by applying a state space MIMO (multi-input/multioutput) system method for control system design and analysis. Thermal models are developed using the simulation program IDA Indoor Climate and Energy. The building has four floors in total, with separate air-handling units (AHUs) on each floor. The system’s eight main input data are hot water and the energy usage for each AHU, while the eight main outputs are return airflow temperature and CO2 levels for AHUs. The factors of wind direction and velocity are also applied as disturbances. By comparing usage data on simulated power consumption versus measured data for the three months of October, November, and December 2016, good agreement was achieved with simulated data. The main aim is to develop a state feedback controller and then apply it toward optimal functionality of a control system. After utilizing the MATLAB identification toolbox, a MIMO system-based state space model is developed.
{"title":"Modeling, Analysis, and State Feedback Control Design of a Multizone HVAC System","authors":"Almahdi Abdo-Allah, T. Iqbal, K. Pope","doi":"10.1155/2018/4303580","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4303580","url":null,"abstract":"A HVAC system is modeled by applying a state space MIMO (multi-input/multioutput) system method for control system design and analysis. Thermal models are developed using the simulation program IDA Indoor Climate and Energy. The building has four floors in total, with separate air-handling units (AHUs) on each floor. The system’s eight main input data are hot water and the energy usage for each AHU, while the eight main outputs are return airflow temperature and CO2 levels for AHUs. The factors of wind direction and velocity are also applied as disturbances. By comparing usage data on simulated power consumption versus measured data for the three months of October, November, and December 2016, good agreement was achieved with simulated data. The main aim is to develop a state feedback controller and then apply it toward optimal functionality of a control system. After utilizing the MATLAB identification toolbox, a MIMO system-based state space model is developed.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"24 1","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86380074","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 : 2017-12-15DOI: 10.1016/J.ENERGY.2017.07.018
Nidret Ibric, E. Ahmetovic, Z. Kravanja, F. Maréchal, M. Kermani
{"title":"Simultaneous synthesis of non-isothermal water networks integrated with process streams","authors":"Nidret Ibric, E. Ahmetovic, Z. Kravanja, F. Maréchal, M. Kermani","doi":"10.1016/J.ENERGY.2017.07.018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2017.07.018","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73396614","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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