This article presents the results of the conversion of biomass-based glucose to levulinic acid (LA) with the use of Na-BEA commercial zeolite catalyst. For this purpose, synthetic zeolite BEA was used as a matrix. The glucose conversion process with the participation of Na-BEA zeolite allowed the following acids to be obtained: levulinic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid and formic acid. The highest yield of levulinic acid was achieved when processed for 1−5 h at 200−250 °C with 0.1 g and 0.6 g of Na-BEA catalyst. We also compare the one-pot heterogeneous process with similar homogeneous process using H2SO4 as catalyst.

Hydrogen is expected to be a next-generation energy source that does not emit carbon dioxide, but when used as a fuel, the issue is the increase in the amount of NOx that is caused by the increase in flame temperature. In this study, we experimentally investigated NOx emissions rate when hydrogen was burned in a hydrocarbon gas burner, which is used in a wide temperature range. As a result of the experiments, the amount of NOx when burning hydrogen in a nozzle mixed burner was twice as high as when burning city gas. However, by increasing the flow velocity of the combustion air, the amount of NOx could be reduced. In addition, by reducing the number of combustion air nozzles rather than decreasing the diameter of the air nozzles, a larger recirculation flow could be formed into the furnace, and the amount of NOx could be reduced by up to 51%. Furthermore, the amount of exhaust gas recirculation was estimated from the reduction rate of NOx, and the validity was confirmed by the relation... [more]

In order to better evaluate the effects of ethanol/diesel blends on engine combustion and emission characteristics, we developed an engine cylinder model using the software CONVERGE combined with the program CHEMKIN. The model was validated experimentally. A modified chemical kinetic mechanism was used to calculate the combustion process of diesel fuel and ethanol for the diesel engine, including 154 reactions and 68 species. Furthermore, the influence of different ethanol proportions on diesel engine combustion and emission characteristics, including power, brake specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, cylinder pressure, cylinder temperature, nitrogen oxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and soot emissions, was also investigated. Our results showed that cylinder pressure and temperature increased with increased ethanol content. When the ethanol content increased to 20% at 100% load, the cylinder pressure increased by 0.46%, and the thermal efficiency increased by 3.63%. How... [more]

In this paper, based on the coupling calculation of Simulink software and GT-Power software, an Optimizer model method was proposed for a 16V265H diesel engine to study the effects of different ratios of biodiesel (B0, B10, and B20) on the performance of a 16V265H diesel engine at 1000 rpm and 75% load. Firstly, the four parameters of diesel engine power, BSFC, soot emission, and NOx emission were taken as the result variables of the optimization model. Taking the intake and exhaust timing of the diesel engine as the independent variable of the optimization model, the maximum power, minimum BSFC, and minimum diesel engine emission were studied and analyzed. Finally, the performance parameters were comprehensively analyzed to determine the best intake and exhaust valve timing. Moreover, based on the model optimization, the diesel engine’s BSFC and power performance were compared, and the optimal intake timing scheme for the diesel engine with different biodiesel ratios at 75% operating... [more]

Lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries stand out among many new batteries for their high energy density. However, the intermediate charge−discharge product dissolves easily into the electrolyte to produce a shuttle effect, which is a key factor limiting the rapid development of Li-S batteries. Among the various materials used to solve the challenges related to pure sulfur cathodes, biomass derived carbon materials are getting wider research attention. In this work, we report on the fabrication of cathode materials for Li-S batteries based on composites of sulfur and biomass-derived porous ramie carbon (RC), which are coated with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). RC can not only adsorb polysulfide in its pores, but also provide conductive channels. At the same time, the MWCNTs coating further reduces the dissolution of polysulfides into the electrolyte and weakens the shuttle effect. The sulfur loading rate of RC is 66.3 wt.%. As a result, the initial discharge capacity of the battery is... [more]

As a new type of composite bridge, the dynamic structural characteristics of a tensioned string bridge need to be deeply studied. In this paper, based on the structural characteristics of a tensioned string bridge, the Rayleigh method is used to derive formulas for calculating the frequencies of vertical, antisymmetric and lateral bending vibrations. The characteristics of the vertical and lateral bending vibration frequencies are summarized. The fundamental frequencies of the antisymmetric vertical bending and lateral bending of the tensioned string bridge are the same as that of the single-span beam under the corresponding constraint conditions. The shape and physical characteristics of the main cable have no effect on the frequency. The vertical bending symmetrical vibration frequency of the tensioned string bridge is greater than the corresponding symmetrical vibration frequency of the simply supported beam. The shape and physical characteristics of the main cable have a greater im... [more]

Biodiesel, which is composed of mono-alkyl esters of long carbon-chained fatty acids, is used as an alternative fuel to petro-diesel. The water content of the reactant mixture of feedstock oil influences the extent of transesterification and thus the fuel characteristics. Lower water content in feedstock oil is generally suggested for successful transesterification. This experimental study removed water from the reactant mixture of feedstock palm oil and methanol during transesterification using various systems composed of either electrodes or molecular sieves with rotary vibration. The effect of input electrical energy, number of electrodes, vibration modes, and operating time on the amount of water removed from the reactant mixture and the fuel properties of the final biodiesel product were analyzed and compared with those achieved using molecular sieves. The results show that the biodiesel—after water was removed during transesterification—appeared to have increased kinematic viscos... [more]

In the process of underground mining, steeply inclined rocks or coal seams are often encountered, forming the openings of right-angle trapezoid. According to the geological conditions of a mining project in China, an analytical elastic solution of stress and displacement around right-angle trapezoidal opening in a homogeneous, isotropic, and linear elastic geomaterial is presented, which is based on the evaluation of the conformal mapping representation by an appropriate numerical calculation and the complex potential functions. The different results from other shaped openings are shown as follows. In a right-angle trapezoidal opening, the maximum displacements of roof falling occur on the low side, while the most horizontal displacements on the low side are around the roof and the most horizontal displacements on the high side are around the middle of the high side in this opening. These results are also compared with the numerical calculations in FLAC software, illustrating that the... [more]

Wind energy has become one of the world’s most renewable energy sources in recent years. It is regarded as a clean energy source because it produces no greenhouse gas emissions. The assessment of wind energy resources is an important step in the development of any wind energy conversion system (WECS). As a result, this article examines the wind energy potential of nine Jordanian wind locations: Queen Alia Airport, Civil Amman Airport, King Hussein Airport, Irbid, Mafraq, Ma’an, Ghor Al Safi, Safawi, and Irwaished. The available wind speed data were implemented using three statistical distribution models, Weibull, Rayleigh, and Gamma distributions, and one traditional estimation method, the Maximum Likelihood Method (MLM). Three optimization techniques were used to assign parameters to each distribution model: Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), and Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA). To determine the optimal distribution model, the performance of these distrib... [more]

The present work explores the possibility of incorporation of silicon into the crystal structure of Ruddlesden-Popper La2NiO4+δ mixed conducting ceramics with the aim to improve the chemical compatibility with lanthanum silicate-based solid electrolytes. Ceramics with the nominal composition La2Ni1−ySiO4+δ (y = 0, 0.02 and 0.05) were prepared by the glycine nitrate combustion technique and sintered at 1450 °C. While minor changes in the lattice parameters of the tetragonal K2NiF4-type lattice may suggest incorporation of a small fraction of Si into the Ni sublattice, combined XRD and SEM/EDS studies indicate that this fraction is very limited (≪2 at.%, if any). Instead, additions of silica result in segregation of apatite-type La10−xSi6O26+δ and La2O3 secondary phases as confirmed experimentally and supported by the static lattice simulations. Both total electrical conductivity and oxygen-ionic transport in La2NiO4+δ ceramics are suppressed by silica additions. The preferential reactiv... [more]

In this study, the combustion and emission characteristics of a diesel/methanol/n-butanol blended fuel engine with different pre-injection timings and pre-injection mass ratios were investigated by a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The CFD model was verified by the measured results and coupled with a simplified chemical kinetics mechanism. Firstly, the corresponding three-dimensional CFD model was established by CONVERGE software and the CHEKMIN program, and a chemical kinetic mechanism containing 359 reactions and 77 species was developed. Secondly, the combustion and emission characteristics of the diesel engine with different diesel/methanol/n-butanol blended fuels were analyzed and discussed. The results showed that increases in the pre-injection timing and the pre-injection mass ratio could increase cylinder pressure and cylinder temperature and decrease soot, HC, and CO emissions. At 100% load, the maximum cylinder pressures at the start of pre-injection timing from −15... [more]

The thermal behavior of green clay samples from the Arumetsa and Füzérradvány deposits (Hungary) and the influence of two new types of Estonian oil shale (OS) ashes and cement bypass dust (clinker dust) additives on it were the objectives of this study. Thermal and thermo-dilatometric analysis methods were applied using a Setaram Setsys 1750 thermoanalyzer coupled with a Pfeiffer Omnistar spectrometer and a Setaram Setsys 1750 CS Evolution dilatometer. The kinetic parameters were calculated based on the differential isoconversional method of Friedman. The results of the thermal analysis of clays and blends indicated the emission of physically bound water at 200−250 °C. At temperatures from 200−250 °C to 550−600 °C the release of water is caused by oxidation of organic matter and dehydroxylation of different clay minerals like illite, illite-smectite, mica and kaolin. From blends, in addition, also from the decomposition of portlandite. The emission of CO2 at these temperatures was a re... [more]

Hydrogen and aluminum were used to produce manganese, aluminum−manganese (AlMn) and ferromanganese (FeMn) alloys through experimental work, and mass and energy balances. Oxide pellets were made from Mn oxide and CaO powder, followed by pre-reduction by hydrogen. The reduced MnO pellets were then smelted and reduced at elevated temperatures through CaO flux and Al reductant addition, yielding metallic Mn. Changing the amount of the added Al for the aluminothermic reduction, with or without iron addition led to the production of Mn metal, AlMn alloy and FeMn alloy. Mass and energy balances were carried out for three scenarios to produce these metal products with feasible material flows. An integrated process with three main steps is introduced; a pre-reduction unit to pre-reduce Mn ore, a smelting-aluminothermic reduction unit to produce metals from the pre-reduced ore, and a gas treatment unit to do heat recovery and hydrogen looping from the pre-reduction process gas. It is shown that... [more]

Europe’s low-carbon energy policy favors a greater use of fuel cells and technologies based on hydrogen used as a fuel. Hydrogen delivered at the hydrogen refueling station must be compliant with requirements stated in different standards. Currently, the quality control process is performed by offline analysis of the hydrogen fuel. It is, however, beneficial to continuously monitor at least some of the contaminants onsite using chemical sensors. For hydrogen quality control with regard to contaminants, high sensitivity, integration parameters, and low cost are the most important requirements. In this study, we have reviewed the existing sensor technologies to detect contaminants in hydrogen, then discussed the implementation of sensors at a hydrogen refueling stations, described the state-of-art in protocols to perform assessment of these sensor technologies, and, finally, identified the gaps and needs in these areas. It was clear that sensors are not yet commercially available for all... [more]

Methanol steam reforming (MSR) is considered an effective method for hydrogen storage and to generate high-quality hydrogen for fuel cells. In this work, a comprehensive investigation of the methanol steam reforming process using a bimetallic Pt−Rh and Cu−Ni based on different oxide supports is presented. Highly dispersed titania and zirconia doped with indium and niobium ions were synthesized by sol−gel method. The effect of the nature and quantity of the dopant cation (In, Nb) on the catalytic performance of titania supported metal catalysts was investigated. The conclusions obtained show a significant effect of both the metal alloy and the oxide support nature on the activity and selectivity of the methanol steam reforming process. Pt−Rh alloy catalyst shows higher hydrogen yield, but its selectivity in the MSR process is lower than for the catalysts containing the Cu0.8-Ni0.2 alloy. Heterovalent indium doping of titania leads to the catalytic activity increase. It was suggested tha... [more]

Ammonia, which has advantages over hydrogen in terms of storage and transportation, is increasingly expected to become a carbon-free fuel. However, the reduction of fuel NOx emitted from ammonia combustion is an unavoidable challenge. There is the report that two-stage combustion with parallel independent jets could achieve Low-NOx combustion under ammonia/methane co-firing conditions. In order to further improve NOx reduction, we experimentally evaluated the effects of secondary air nozzle parameters, such as nozzle diameter and nozzle locations, on combustion characteristics in two-stage combustion of ammonia/natural gas co-firing using parallel independent jets. As a result of the experiments under various secondary air nozzle conditions, it was found that under the conditions where NOx was significantly reduced, the peak temperature in the furnace was observed at 300−500 mm in the axial direction from the burner, and then the temperature decreased toward the downstream of the furna... [more]

The sound propagation speed measurement us is used for monitoring triglyceride ethanolysis in a broad range of reaction conditions (mainly, temperature: 23−50 °C; ethanol/oil: from 6 to 24 mol/mol). Experimentally, us slightly increased with the reaction time in all cases as a result of the contribution of its dynamic mixture components. Nomoto’s expression for homogeneous mixtures offered suitable us estimation but with values notably higher than the experimental ones due to the resistance to sound propagation offered by the ethanol/oil interphase (non-homogeneous medium). Our strategy was based on both the comparison of the experimental us values and the theoretical ones correlated by means of triglyceride conversion and on the estimation of the sound speed of oil/ethanol that could emulate the resistance offered by the interphase. The evolution of the reactions was predicted quite well for all the experiments carried out with very different reaction rates. Nevertheless, at the begin... [more]

The fault tree analysis (FTA) method is an important analysis method for safety system engineering. Traditional accident analysis theory agrees that basic events lead to top events, but it does not fully consider that the accident process is accidental, and the calculation results exaggerate the probability of accident occurrence. This paper selects typical collision accidents, analyzes the shortcomings of the existing fault tree, indicates that there is a contingency in the accident process, constructs a probability fault tree based on the traditional fault tree, and puts forward concepts of “probability AND gate” and “probability OR gate”. In addition, based on the traditional quantitative analysis method of fault trees, calculations of the occurrence probability, probability importance coefficient, and critical importance coefficient of top events are modified, and the modified quantitative calculation is applied to accident cases.

This study is an experimental study corresponding to an analytical study presented previously, where a scaled-down model was built and tested in a water tank by following the size and shape of the structure applied in the analytical study. In this study, a wave energy converter of an oscillating water column (OWC) system is integrated with the infrastructure of a jacket-type offshore platform applied to an offshore wind turbine system. The purpose is to conduct a combination system through the simultaneous utilization of both wind power and wave power so that sustainable energy can be maximized. During the analytical study’s analysis, the airflow response and the converting efficiency of wave energy from an OWC system integrated with an offshore template structural system were evaluated. By following the analytical study’s analysis, the performance of all the systems is tested, including the airflow velocity, pneumatic power, and the converting efficiency of the power from waves. The e... [more]

Vienna converters have several advantages, including low construction costs, improved total harmonics, and considerable reliability. Generally, they are used in applications with a high switching frequency, particularly in telecommunications, and their use in power generation systems is recent but promising. They can be an interesting solution for medium and large wind power systems as they have the advantage of a high power density compared to traditional two-level converters. In this paper, a wind energy production system based on a Vienna rectifier and the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) is proposed. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the performance of the vector control strategy of the PMSG associated with the Vienna rectifier considering the real conditions of wind power systems. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed control strategy are evaluated through the simulations in MATLAB/Simulink and experimental tests based on a laboratory prototyp... [more]

Centrifugal pumps as turbines (PATs) are widely used in chemical engineering for recycling the abundant energy from high-pressure fluid. The operation of PATs is significantly affected by their upstream conditions, which are not steady (i.e., with a constant flow rate) in reality, thus, research on the flow mechanism of PATs under transient conditions should be considered of higher importance. In this study, a numerical model of a PAT was developed by employing the sliding mesh method to describe turbine rotation, and a user-defined function (UDF) for characterizing transient flow conditions. Corresponding experiments were also conducted to provide validation results for the simulation, and the simulation results agreed well with the experimental outcomes. The instantaneous characteristic curves under the current working conditions were obtained for different transient flow rates. The results show that the turbine’s efficiency is significantly affected by transient flow conditions. In... [more]

The effect of tilt angle on free convection heat transfer is investigated experimentally inside a rectangular parallelepiped cavity filled with water. The cavity had the dimensions S × S × H (m3), where S was the inside length, and H was the inside height of the cavity. The lower surface was subject to constant heat flux, and the upper surface was cooled by a stream of ambient air. The free convection heat transfer data were generated using different uniform heat fluxes. Four tilt angles were considered: 0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°. The surface temperature measurements were collected 10 h after the experimental run to ensure that a steady-state was reached. It was noticeable that the free convection heat transfer strongly depended on the tilt angle and the modified Rayleigh numbers. The 3D results showed that the Nusselt number reached a maximum at 60° at a fixed modified Rayleigh number. An enhancement in the Nusselt number at any tilt angle was observed over that of a z... [more]

Gas turbine engines (GTEs) frequently operate in desert environments where the main components are exposed to erosive media such as sand and dust. In these circumstances, a crucial problem, particularly with compressor blades, is solid particle erosion (SPE). Positioned in the front of the GTE, the compressors suffer most from SPE in terms of inflicting damage on compressor hardware such as blades, decreasing the GTE’s working life and increasing fuel consumption, energy losses, and efficiency losses. Results obtained from Turbomatch, an in-house performance tool, showed that degraded compressors can experience increased turbine entry temperature (TET) and specific fuel consumption (SFC), which leads to a significant increase in the operating, maintenance and component replacement costs, in addition to fuel costs. Fitting erosion protective coatings (EPCs) is a conventional approach to reduce SPE of the compressor blades of aeroengines. Titanium nitride (TiN), applied via physical vapo... [more]

The development of the construction industry has brought great convenience to people’s lives, but the problems of resource shortages and energy consumption are becoming more and more serious. In order to solve the problem of resource shortages and energy consumption, this paper puts forward an evaluation system of technical and economic benefits of green building energy conservation based on the analytic hierarchy process and entropy weight method. In view of the correlation between building technology and economic benefits, this paper puts forward the economic benefit evaluation system of green building energy-saving technology combined with analytic hierarchy process and entropy weight methods, determines 6 first-class evaluation indexes and 20 s-class evaluation indexes, and takes the dynamic incremental investment payback period and incremental economic benefit ratio as the evaluation indexes, and finally obtains the economic benefit score and star value of green building. Combined... [more]

Wind energy is an alternative to meet the growing energy demand. Control of wind turbines should help the reliability and stable operation of the power grid. Furthermore, they should respect the technical requirements according to the grid codes to inject the wind energy into the grid. In this paper, a well-known field-oriented control (FOC) method and a new control method based on the flatness properties (FBC) are presented and compared. These control methods are applied to a wind energy conversion system (WECS), which connects a variable-speed wind turbine (WT) based on a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) to the grid via a back-to-back converter. The main aim of both control methods is to extract the maximum power from the wind. For this purpose, the mathematical model of each subsystem, i.e., WT, PMSG, and electrical grid, is presented. To evaluate and to compare the dynamic behavior of the high-power wind energy conversion system, it is modeled and the control strategie... [more]