An important element of a solar installation is the storage tank. When properly selected and operated, it can bring numerous benefits. The presented research relates to a project that is implemented at the Solar Energy Research Center of the University of Almeria in Spain. In order to improve the operation of the solar cooling and heating system of the Center, it was upgraded with two newly designed storage tanks filled with phase change materials (PCM). As a result of design works, commercial material S10 was selected for the accumulation of cold, and S46 for the accumulation of heat, in an amount of 85% and 15%, respectively. The article presents in detail the process of selecting the PCM material, designing the installation, experimental research, and exergy analysis. Individual tasks were carried out by research groups cooperating under the PCMSOL EUROPEAN PROJECT. Results of tests conducted on the constructed installation indicate that daily energy saving when using a solar chille... [more]

The energy storage field is nowadays a highly ranking topic. This research deals with the installation and analysis of the ice storage system which combines heat pump, solar absorber, and ice storage tank (phase change material—PCM). This system uses a special kind of solar absorber − header pipes (HDP), which have no thermal isolation compared to the common solar absorber. Thanks to that the HDP, pipes can absorb thermal energy not only from the sun but also from the environment. The rain or snow also affects heat exchange. All that is provided by one technical device. The system can store thermal energy gained from the solar absorber into the ice storage tank for future usage. Research works with data from the real operation, for a period of the year covering all working phases/modes of the system. The analysis of the data led to the identification of several specific modes of the system, especially from the processes taking place in the PCM storage tank during its charging and disch... [more]

Different perovskite materials, such as methylammonium lead triiodide MAPbI3, exhibit many outstanding and desirable properties in solar energy harvesting. In this paper, the enhancement of perovskite solar cells’ both optical and electrical characteristics through adding either gold (Au) or silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) using different simulations was studied. The used plasmonic nanoparticles were found to be able to compensate for the low absorption of MAPbI3 in the visible with optical coupling resonance frequencies close to that spectrum. Optimal diameters of Au and Ag NPs were found and simulated, and their impact on different parameters such as transmission, absorption, reflection, external quantum efficiency (EQE), open circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, and most importantly, efficiency of the perovskite solar cell, have been investigated.

In this paper, organic phase change materials are modeled and studied both numerically and computationally. The results are compared with those of other research available in the international literature. Regardless of their heat storing capacity, the low heat conductivity of PCMs constitutes a significant obstacle to the further advancement of technologies pertaining to latent heat energy storage, as it hampers the immediate response of systems both at heat storage and at heat recovery. In this work, two types of nanoparticles are used as enhancing media, and the calculations are repeated in terms of melting front and stored energy enhancement. The results show that a 6.5% value for the melt percentage enhancement and a 5.5% value for the heat stored enhancement are exhibited when copper nanoparticles are utilized.

The vibration-threshold-triggered piezoelectric energy harvester is a new type of piezoelectric energy harvester with a two-stage structure, which can generate electricity in a low frequency environment and recognize vibration intensity at the same time. In this study, a theoretical model of a vibration-threshold-triggered energy harvester was examined, and an equivalent circuit model of the energy harvester was obtained. Then, an interface circuit was proposed that can significantly improve the output power of the energy harvester. The interface circuit achieved impedance matching with the piezoelectric material to maximize the energy collected from the energy harvester. First, we calculated and analyzed the impedance characteristics of the energy harvester, based on the equivalent circuit model. It was found that because the piezoelectric material is in resonance as the energy harvester is in operation, the corresponding impedance is almost resistance. Therefore, a resistance-matchin... [more]

The built environment remains a strategic research and innovation domain in view of the goal of full decarbonization. The priority is the retrofitting of existing buildings as zero-emission to improve their energy efficiency with renewable energy technologies pulling the market with cost-effective strategies. From the first age of photovoltaics (PV) mainly integrated in solar roofs, we rapidly moved towards complete active building skins where all the architectural surfaces are photoactive (Building Integrated Photovoltaics - BIPV). This change of paradigm, where PV replaces a conventional building material, shifted the attention to relate construction choices with energy and cost effectiveness. However, systematic investigations which put into action a cross-disciplinary approach between construction, economic and energy related domains is still missing. This paper provides the detailed assessment of a real multifamily building, taking into account retrofit scenarios for making active... [more]

A variable sedimentary environment and accumulation process leads to a complex pore structure in deep carbonate gas reservoirs, and the physical properties are quite different between layers. Moreover, some pores and throats are filled with solid bitumen (SB), which not only interferes with reservoir analysis, but also affects efficient development. However, previous studies on SB mainly focused on the accumulation process and reservoir analysis, and there are few reports about the influence on development. In this paper, through scanning electron microscope analysis, SB extraction, gas flow experiments and depletion experiments, and a similar transformation between experimental results and reservoir production, the production characteristics of carbonate gas reservoirs with different pore structures were studied, and the influence of SB on pore structure, reservoir analysis and development were systematically analyzed. The results show that permeability is one of the key factors affec... [more]

For over a decade, single-junction perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have experienced an unprecedent increase in efficiencies and even offer opportunities to surpass the Shockley−Queisser limit in multijunction configuration. There is consequently an intense need for easily processable semi-transparent PSCs as a basis of affordable tandems. The current study reports the comparison of negative-intrinsic-positive (NIP) and positive-intrinsic-negative (PIN) architectures based on CH3NH3PbI3{Cl}-based perovskite. Both devices could be prepared with the same N-type (SnO2 nanoparticles) and P-type (poly-triarylamine (PTAA) polymer) materials. Each layer (except for electrodes) was deposited using solvent-based low temperature processes, contrasting with other literature studies, especially SnO2 for PIN-type purposes. A thorough experimental comparison of the two architectures reveals rather similar optical and structural properties for perovskites, whether deposited on an N- or P-type underlayer... [more]

Currently; the transfer of new technologies makes it necessary to also control heat transfer in different industrial processes—both in practical and research—applications. Not so long ago water and ethylene glycol were the most frequently used media in heat transfer. However, due to their relatively low thermal conductivity, they cannot provide the fast and effective heat transfer necessary in modern equipment. To improve the heat transfer rate different additives to the base liquid are sought, e.g., nanoadditives that create mono and hybrid nanofluids with very high thermal conductivity. The number of scientific studies and publications concerning hybrid nanofluids is growing, although they still represent a small percentage of all papers on nanofluids (in 2013 it was only 0.6%, and in 2017—ca. 3%). The most important point of this paper is to discuss different ways of stabilizing nanofluids, which seems to be one of the most challenging tasks in nanofluid treatment. Other future chal... [more]

The pore geometry and topology properties of pore space in rocks are significant for a better understanding of the complex hydrologic and elastic properties. However, geometry and topology information about the sandstone pore structures is not fully available. In this study, we obtained the topological and geometrical pore parameters from a representative elementary volume (REV) for fluid flow in sandstone samples. For comparison, eight types of sandstones with various porosities were studied based on the X-ray micro-computed tomography technique. In this study, the REV size was selected based on the parameters from the respective pore network models (PNM), not just the porosity. Our analysis indicates that despite different porosity, all the sandstone samples have highly triangular-shaped pores and a high degree of pore structural isotropy. The high porosity group sandstones exhibit wider ranges of pore sizes than the low porosity group sandstones. Compared to the high porosity group... [more]

Ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) samples, which were obtained by blending two different types of ammonium nitrate porous prills (i.e., AN-PP7 and AN-PP8) with fuel oil (FO) were studied. Measurements of structure, crystallinity and morphology were performed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), respectively. From the SEM analysis, it was indicated that a “wrinkled” structure characterized the crystal surface of the samples, which were based on two types of ammonium nitrate porous prill. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC) confirmed that AN-PP7 had a higher absorption index in comparison to AN-PP8. Furthermore, it was shown that continuous AN phase transformations at precise temperatures took place. From the blasting test, it was indicated that the absorption index only had an influence on the content of toxic fumes. However, the velocity of detonation (VOD) depended solely on the ANFO den... [more]

In this work, an experiment was carried out to investigate the preparation condition of anisotropic, Fe-deficient, M-type Sr ferrite with optimum magnetic and physical properties by changing experimental parameters, such as the La substitution amount and little additive modification during fine milling process. The compositions of the calcined ferrites were chosen according to the stoichiometry LaSr1-xFe12-2xO19, where M-type single-phase calcined powder was synthesized with a composition of x = 0.30. The effect of CaCO3, SiO2, and Co3O4 inter-additives on the Sr ferrite was also discussed in order to obtain low-temperature sintered magnets. The magnetic properties of Br = 4608 Gauss, bHc = 3650 Oe, iHc = 3765 Oe, and (BH)max = 5.23 MGOe were obtained for Sr ferrite hard magnets with low cobalt content at 1.7 wt%, which will eventually be used as high-end permanent magnets for the high-efficiency motor application in automobiles with Br > 4600 ± 50 G and iHc > 3600 ± 50 Oe.

To understand the long-term stability of nitrifying granules in a membrane bioreactor (GMBR), a membrane module was submerged in an airlift reactor to eliminate the hydraulic selection pressure that was believed to be the driving force of aerobic granulation. The long-term monitoring results showed that the structure of nitrifying granules could remain stable for 305 days in the GMBR without hydraulic selection pressure; however, the majority of the granule structure was actually inactive due to mass diffusion limitation. As a consequence, active biomass free of mass diffusion limitation only inhabited the top 60−80 µm layer of the nitrifying granules. There was a dynamic equilibrium between bioflocs and membrane, i.e., 25% of bioflocs attached on the membrane surface within the last nine days of the backwash cycle in synchronization with the emergence of a peak of soluble extracellular polymeric substances (sEPS), with a concentration of around 47 mg L−1. Backwash can eventually detac... [more]

Pure cadmium sulfide and histidine decorated cadmium sulfide nanocomposites are prepared by the hydrothermal or solvothermal method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows that the particle sizes of pure cadmium sulfide (pu/CdS) and histidine decorated cadmium sulfide prepared by the hydrothermal method (hi/CdS) range from 0.75 to 3.0 μm. However, when a solvothermal method is used, the particle size of histidine decorated cadmium sulfide (so/CdS) ranges from 50 to 300 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show that all samples (pu/CdS, hi/CdS and so/CdS) have a hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure but so/CdS has a poor crystallinity compared to the others. The as-prepared samples are applied to photocatalytic hydrogen production via water splitting and the results show that the highest H2 evolution rate for pu/CdS and hi/CdS are 1250 and 1950 μmol·g−1·h−1, respectively. On the other hand, the so/CdS sample has a rate of 6020 μmol·g−1·h−1, which is about five times higher tha... [more]

A series of 5%Ni-CexZr1−xO2 (x = 0.3, 0.5, 0.7) catalysts has been prepared via one-pot solvothermal continuous synthesis in supercritical isopropanol and incipient wetness impregnation of CexZr1−xO2 obtained by the same route. The textural, structural, red-ox, and catalytic properties in methane dry reforming (MDR) of Ni-modified Ce-Zr oxides synthesized by two routes have been compared. It was shown by XRD, TEM, and Raman spectroscopy that the method of Ni introduction does not affect the phase composition of the catalysts, but determines the dispersion of NiO. Despite a high dispersion of NiO and near-uniform distribution of Ni within Ce-Zr particles observed for the one-pot catalysts, they have shown a lower activity and stability in MDR as compared with impregnated ones. This is a result of a low Ni concentration in the surface layer due to segregation of Ce and decoration of nickel nanoparticles with support species.

Internal stress in basin insulators of gas-insulated metal-enclosed switchgear (GIS) can lead to cracks, which affects the safe operation of these apparatuses. In this research, we proposed a subsurface internal stress measurement method for GIS epoxy composites. This method is based on an ultrasonic longitudinal critically refracted (LCR) wave technique. In this study, some epoxy composite specimens were synthesized with similar materials and manufacturing processes to those of 252 kV GIS basin insulators. An ultrasonic stress measurement system that utilized the LCR wave technique was set-up to investigate the relationship between stress and LCR wave propagation time, as well as to measure the compressive stress of the epoxy specimen within 0−50 MPa. The results show that LCR wave propagation time linearly decreased when stress increased in the subsurface zone and the acoustoelastic coefficient was −4.95. We found the relative errors of stress measurements to be less than 13%.

In order to limit the anthropic emissions of CO2, research is currently investigating new materials for the building sector. The main purpose is the reduction in the embodied energy consumption, especially in the residential sector, and consequently the limitation of the direct and indirect utilization of fossil fuels, for the indoor heating, cooling, and ventilation services. Indeed, the residential sector is affected by a high energy demand, thus the choice of improved materials is fundamental to improve the sustainability. All phases: construction, building life, and dismantling are impacting in terms of resource and energy consumption, both associated with the emissions of pollutants in the atmosphere. The aim of this experimental research is to study the thermal insulation and the acoustic absorption of a material composed by natural lime, water, and shives from sativa hemp, a variety of hemp usable for industrial applications. In order to assess the main characteristics of this m... [more]

A new approach for biomass liquefaction was developed and evaluated in a joint research project. Focus of the project, called FEBio@H2O, lies on a two-step hydrothermal conversion. Within step 1, the input biomass is converted employing a hydrothermal degradation without added catalyst or by homogeneous catalysis. Within step 2, the hydrogen accepting products of step 1, e.g., levulinic acid (LA) are upgraded by a heterogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation with hydrogen donor substances, e.g., formic acid (FA). As a result, components with an even lower oxygen content in comparison to step 1 products are formed; as an example, γ-valerolactone (GVL) can be named. Therefore, the products are more stable and contained less oxygen as requested for a possible application as liquid fuel. As a hydrothermal process, FEBio@H2O is especially suitable for highly water-containing feedstock. The evaluation involves hydrothermal conversion tests with model substances, degradation of real biomasses, tra... [more]

A Ba-based glass-ceramic sealant is designed and tested for solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) applications. A suitable SiO2/BaO ratio is chosen in order to obtain BaSi2O5 crystalline phase and subsequently favorable thermo-mechanical properties of the glass-ceramic sealant. The glass is analyzed in terms of thermal, thermo-mechanical, chemical, and electrical behavior. Crofer22APU-sealant-Crofer22APU joined samples are tested for 2000 h at 850 °C in a dual atmosphere test rig having reducing atmosphere of H2:H2O 50/50 (mol%) and under the applied voltage of 1.6 V. In order to simulate the SOEC dynamic working conditions, thermal cycles are performed during the long-term electrical resistivity test. The glass-ceramic shows promising behavior in terms of high density, suitable CTE, and stable electrical resistivity (106−107 Ω cm) under SOEC conditions. The SEM-EDS post mortem analysis confirms excellent chemical and thermo-mechanical compatibility of the glass-ceramic with Crofer22APU... [more]

Steam explosion is a well-known process to pretreat lignocellulosic biomass in order to enhance sugar yields in enzymatic hydrolysis, but pretreatment conditions have to be optimized individually for each material. In this study, we investigated how the results of a pretreatment optimization procedure are influenced by the chosen reaction conditions in the enzymatic hydrolysis. Beechwood was pretreated by steam explosion and the resulting biomass was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis at glucan loadings of 1% and 5% employing either washed solids or the whole pretreatment slurry. For enzymatic hydrolysis in both reaction modes at a glucan loading of 1%, the glucose yields markedly increased with increasing severity and with increasing pretreatment temperature at identical severities and maximal values were reached at a pretreatment temperature of 230 °C. However, the optimal severity was 5.0 for washed solids enzymatic hydrolysis, but only 4.75 for whole slurry enzymatic hydrolysis. Whe... [more]

The estimation of rockburst potential has attracted great attention in the field of rock mechanics and engineering. In this study, an original energy preservation index is proposed to evaluate the rockburst potential in view of the energy evolution characteristics of rock materials. To investigate the energy evolution during rock deformation and failure, a number of cyclic uniaxial compression experiments on five kinds of rocks were carried out. The results showed that the curves of energy evolution exhibited obvious stages and there were significantly different weakening degrees for different rock materials embodied by the decreasing degrees of the ratios of elastic strain energy to dissipated strain energy at the weakening stage. Then, the energy preservation index was further formulated based on the decreasing ratio. Furthermore, by analyzing the acoustic emission activities at the failure stage and failure modes of the five rock materials, the rockburst potential was analyzed accor... [more]

In this work, we investigate the potential of using last generation photovoltaic systems in traditional building components of historical buildings. The multifunctional photovoltaic components also open new application and implementation horizons in the field of energy retrofitting in historical buildings. Some of the Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) solutions lend themselves optimally to solving the problems of energy efficiency in historical buildings. For the next few years, Italian legislation foresees increasing percentages of energy production from renewable sources, including historical buildings. The opportunities and constraints analysed are presented through a specific approach, typical of building processes for innovative technological BIPV solutions on historical buildings.

A plate fin heat exchanger (PFHE) is a critical part of the cryogenic industry. A plate fin heat exchanger has many applications, but it is commonly used in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry for the gasification/liquefaction process. During this gasification to the liquefaction process, there is a large temperature gradient. Due to this large temperature gradient, stresses are produced that directly influence the braze joint of PFHE. Significant work has been carried out on heat transfer and the flow enhancement of PFHE; however, little attention has been paid to structural stability and stresses produced in these brazed joints. Due to these stresses, leakages in PFHE are observed, mostly in braze joints. In the current study, standard fin design is analyzed. In addition, the structural stability of brazed joints under standard conditions is also tested. Two techniques are used here to analyze fins, using the finite element method (FEM), first by examining the whole fin brazed j... [more]

A thermoelectric effect is a physical phenomenon consisting of the direct conversion of heat into electrical energy (Seebeck effect) or inversely from electrical current into heat (Peltier effect) without moving mechanical parts. The low efficiency of thermoelectric devices has limited their applications to certain areas, such as refrigeration, heat recovery, power generation and renewable energy. However, for specific applications like space probes, laboratory equipment and medical applications, where cost and efficiency are not as important as availability, reliability and predictability, thermoelectricity offers noteworthy potential. The challenge of making thermoelectricity a future leader in waste heat recovery and renewable energy is intensified by the integration of nanotechnology. In this review, state-of-the-art thermoelectric generators, applications and recent progress are reported. Fundamental knowledge of the thermoelectric effect, basic laws, and parameters affecting the... [more]

In gas/solid conditions, different chemicals, such as diethylether, ethylene, butadiene, higher hydrocarbons, acetaldehyde, acetone and hydrogen, can be produced from ethanol with heterogeneous catalytic processes. The focus of this paper is the interplay of different reaction paths, which depend on thermodynamic factors as well as on kinetic factors, thus mainly from catalyst functionalities and reaction temperatures. Strategies for selectivity improvements in heterogeneously catalyzed processes converting (bio)ethanol into renewable chemicals and biofuels are also considered.