Solar desalination systems are a promising solution to the water scarcity problem since the majority of the earth’s water resources are salty. With the increasing focus on desalination research, many innovative methods are being developed to extract salts from saline water. Energy consumption is a significant concern in desalination, and renewable energy, particularly solar energy, is considered a viable alternative to fossil fuel energy. In this review, we will focus on direct and indirect solar desalination methods, specifically traditional direct solar desalination methods such as solar still and humidification dehumidification (HDH) desalination systems. We will also briefly discuss a recent advancement in the desalination method known as the fogging process, which is a development of the HDH desalination system.

The effects of applying external electric fields on the coefficient of friction of a selected elastomer during mechanical interaction with steel and copper surface oil (counter samples) immersed in a pin-on-disc setup were studied and investigated. The synthetic base oils used were PAG 68 and PAO 6. The elastomer selected for the study is commonly used in the manufacture of rotary lip seals. During the investigations, the viscosity of the oils tested was also experimentally determined in the temperature range of between 286 K and 393 K. It was found that the external electric field had a significant effect on the friction coefficient, depending on the type of base oil, the angular velocity of the load force, and the counterpart. It was observed that for both oils tested, the coefficient of friction values decreased by about 30% when an external DC electric field was applied. In addition, a simple numerical model of the friction interface was proposed and studied. The experimental resul... [more]

Smart grid systems play a significant role in improving the resilience of distribution systems (DSs). In this paper, two strategies are proposed for implementation of a smart grid application: (a) a network reconfiguration and (b) a network reconfiguration with mobile emergency generator (MEGs) deployment. An improved set of resilience metrics to quantify and enhance the resiliency of distribution systems (DSs) is developed for the proposed optimization. The metrics aim to determine a suitable strategy and the optimal number and capacity of MEGs to restore the disconnected loads through the development of several microgrids. These metrics are then aggregated with the proposed strategy to develop an automated solution provider. The objective is to maximize system resilience considering the priority loads. The proposed resilience metrics are tested on the IEEE 33-Bus radial DSs. The case studies conducted proved the performance of the proposed power outage management strategy and resilie... [more]

As a promising new power source, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has attracted extensive attention. The PEMFC engine produces a large amount of waste heat during operation. The excessive temperature will reduce the efficiency and lifespan of PEMFC engine and even cause irreversible damage if not taken away in time. The thermal management system of the PEMFC plays a critical role in efficiency optimization, longevity and operational safety. To solve the problem of high heat production in the operation of the PEMFC, two approaches are proposed to improve the heat dissipation performance of the radiators in thermal management systems. Three kinds of nanofluids with excellent electrical and thermal conductivity−Al2O3, SiO2 and ZnO− are employed as the cooling medium. The radiator parameters are optimized to improve the heat transfer capability. A typical 1D thermal management system and an isotropic 3D porous medium model replacing the wavy fin are constructed to reveal the... [more]

The demand for a reliable, cheap and environmentally friendly source of energy makes the integration of renewable energy into power networks a global challenge. Furthermore, reliability, as one of the core elements of efficient and cost-effective energy management options, is still among the dominant factors/techniques that receive more attention for realistic penetrations of renewable energy into the electricity grid. This paper proposes an efficient way of energy management for a grid-connected microgrid. The grid-connected microgrid used in the analysis consists of solar photovoltaic (P.V.) and battery. In this microgrid configuration, oftentimes, the output power might not be equal to the system demand; in this regard, it is expected that the mismatch between these output powers is not zero. However, to reduce the mismatch between demand and supply to be close to zero, this paper proposes strategies of increasing the rated power of solar, battery and grid separately and combining t... [more]

Currently, fossil fuels are used to produce fuels and electricity, which are finite sources and have a negative impact on the natural environment. An excellent alternative to these fuels is biofuels, such as bioethanol from waste forest biomass. Pine needles are one of the most important available forest biomass materials with s significant impact on local understory vegetation. Forest waste biomass, which is a rich source of lignocellulose, can be used in various ways, such as for the eco-economical production of bioethanol. The aim of this study was to analyze the possibilities of bioethanol production from pine needle biomass obtained from forest land following different soil preparations and logging residue management. The pine needle dry matter yield, chemical components of pine needle biomass (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin), and the amount of ethanol yield per hectare were evaluated. The highest average yield pine needle equal to 6.17 Mg∙ha−1 was observed. Bioethanol yield per... [more]

High-frequency transformer core materials are used in power converter applications due to high efficiency performance. Their volume and weight can be reduced when higher operating frequencies are used but at the expense of an increase in core material losses. Some studies analyzed transformer core material performance by using finite element method (FEM) analysis, while others used an experimental model. This study proposes an experimental approach to compare the high-frequency transformer efficiency performance of different core material types. In this way, newly produced core material performance can be rapidly analyzed by comparing it against a known core material type, thereby resulting in the fast identification of improved core material design. This empirical approach makes use of a standard half-bridge inverter topology to enable an analysis of high-frequency transformer core material efficiency performance. Actual voltage and current measurements are used to determine the effic... [more]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 24 billion pieces of surgical mask waste (WM) were generated in the EU region, with an acute shortage of their management and recycling. Pyrolysis and gasification are among the most promising treatments that were proposed to dispose of WMs and convert them into pyrolysis oil and hydrogen-rich syngas. This work aimed to investigate the techno-economic analysis (TEA) of both treatments in order to assess the feasibility of scaling up. The TEA was carried out using a discounted cash flow model and its data were collected from practical experiments conducted using a fluidised bed pyrolysis reactor and bubbling fluidised bed gasifier system with a capacity of 0.2 kg/h and 1 kg/h, respectively, then upscaling to one tonne/h. The technological evaluation was made based on the optimal conditions that could produce the maximum amount of pyrolysis oil (42.3%) and hydrogen-rich syngas (89.7%). These treatments were also compared to the incineration of WMs... [more]

Due to the high operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), the system efficiency depends on efficient thermal integration and the effective construction of system configuration. In this study, nine configurations of system integration design were investigated to evaluate the possible improvement of system efficiency with energy separation devices. The models were developed under the Matlab/Simulink® platform with Thermolib® module. The reference layout of the simulation included an SOFC stack, a compressor, an external reformer with a burner, a three-way valve, a heat exchanger, and a water pump. From the reference case, eight cases extended layouts for the capability of thermal energy utilization with a catalytic converter, SOFC hybridization, and an energy separation device. Since the energy separation device was beneficial to thermal energy utilization via a boost to the gas temperature, electric efficiency, and combined heat and power (CHP) efficiency was improved with... [more]

Bidirectional DC−DC converters are frequently chosen for applications requiring high power density such as in bidirectional electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Vehicle to Everything (V2X) technology makes the EV battery an electrical energy source. In this article, the use of a DC−DC LLC converter used in a bidirectional EV charger is reviewed. Different modeling approaches of the DC−DC LLC converter, such as small and large signal modeling, are discussed. Common modulation strategies applied to the DC−DC LLC converter in V2X mode, such as Pulse Frequency Modulation (PFM), Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and Phase-Shift Modulation (PSM), are presented. The new challenge is to present the main characteristics and limitations of each modulation strategy in order to cover the whole operating zone of the EV charger in V2X mode. Furthermore, different control strategies based on a small or large signal model combined with different modulation strategies are highlighted. Linear and nonlinear contro... [more]

One of the greatest challenges humankind currently faces is global warming, mainly caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Here we have attempted to show how thermal conversion products, specifically from the pyrolysis of biomass wastes such as sewage sludge, can be used effectively and equivalently to sequester CO2 in brownfield and degraded areas. Scenarios were devised that showed the significant potential for CO2 sequestration in the form of biochar from sewage sludge deposited on degraded and brownfield areas. With the current amount of sludge production, such sludge could even be used in its entirety as a raw material in pyrolysis processes, where, in addition to the biochar, the heat necessary for drying the sludge could be generated and high-energy gas and liquid fractions could be obtained, which could be used to produce alternative fuels. It is therefore important to consider both the potential for CO2 sequestration on degraded and brownfield sites and the potential for sludge di... [more]

Urban building energy models present a valuable tool for promoting energy efficiency in building design and control, as well as for managing urban energy systems. However, the current models often overlook the importance of site-specific characteristics, as well as the spatial attributes and variations within a specific area of a city. This methodological paper moves beyond state-of-the-art urban building energy modeling and urban-scale energy models by incorporating an improved place-based approach to address this research gap. This approach allows for a more in-depth understanding of the interactions behind spatial patterns and an increase in the number and quality of energy-related variables. The paper outlines a detailed description of the steps required to create urban energy models and presents sample application results for each model. The pre-modeling phase is highlighted as a critical step in which the geo-database used to create the models is collected, corrected, and integra... [more]

The following paper examines the practicality of a methodical approach for energy-flexible and energy-optimal operation in the field of metal-cutting production. The analysis is based on the example of a grinding machine and its central cooling-supply system. In the first step, an energy-flexibility data model is built for each subsystem, which describes energy flexibility potentials generically. This is then extended to enable combined energy cost-optimal production planning. As a basis for the links between the data model representations, the cold flows between the subsystems are modeled using parameter-estimation methods, which have a mean absolute error of only 2.3 percent, making the subsequent installation of heat meters unnecessary. Based on the presented approach, the results successfully validate the possibility of energy-flexible cost-optimal and sensor-reduced production planning by reducing energy costs by 6.6 percent overall and 1.9 percent per workpiece produced.

This paper presents an equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) based on model predictive control for series hybrid electric mine trucks (SHE-MTs), the objective of which is to minimize fuel consumption. Two critical works are presented to achieve the goal. Firstly, to gain the real-time speed trajectory on-line, a speed prediction model is established by utilizing a recurrent neural network (RNN). Specifically, a hybrid optimization algorithm based on the genetic algorithm (GA) and the particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSOA) is used to enhance the prediction precision of the speed prediction model. Then, on this basis, an ECMS based on MPC (ECMS-MPC) is proposed. In this process, to improve the real-time and working condition adaptability of the ECMS-MPC, the power-optimal fuel consumption mapping model of the range extender is established, and the equivalent factor (EF) is real-time adjusted by means of the PSOA. Finally, taking a cement mining road as the research ob... [more]

Accurate estimations and assessments of vehicle emissions can support decision-making processes. Current emission estimation tools involve several calculation methods that provide estimates of the exhaust components that result from driving on urban arterial roads. This is an important consideration, as the emissions generated have a direct impact on the health of pedestrians near the roads. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of emission models, especially in combination with traffic simulator models. This is because it is very difficult to obtain an actual measurement of road emissions for all vehicles travelling along the analysed road section. This paper concerns a review of selected traffic simulations and the estimation of exhaust gas components models. The models presented have been aggregated into a group with respect to their scale of accuracy as micro, meso, and macro. This paper also presents an overview of selected works that combine both traffic and emis... [more]

This article discusses the characteristics of the design of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) for cold climates. Since the thermocouples of thermoelectric batteries are produced from different materials, their major properties are studied. Particular attention is given to nanostructured materials regarding the modern class of thermoelectric materials. Two-, three-, and four-component alloys (metallic glasses) of the Fe-Ni(Cu)-P-B system are chosen based on the experience of thermoelectric thermometry. The close chemical composition of two thermoelectrodes enables their compatibility in thermocouple production and satisfactory thermoelectric efficiency of batteries during long-term operation. The improvement of the thermoelectric battery characteristics related to a unit of mass is evaluated. The materials studied are distinguished by the absence of toxic components harmful to the environment at the manufacturing and operating stages.

Airborne dust and dust storms are natural disasters that transport dust over long distances from the source basin, sometimes reaching hundreds of kilometers. Today, Iraq is a basin that produces dust storms that strike all neighboring countries such as Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. These storms affect the productivity and capacity of the photovoltaic modules and reduce the amount of electricity that is generated clearly. Airborne dust reduces the intensity of solar radiation by scattering and absorbing it. In addition, the dust accumulated on the photovoltaic modules causes a deterioration in their productivity. In this study, an extensive review of wind movement and its sources, especially those that hit the city of Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, was conducted. Practical experiments were also carried out during a storm to measure important variables that had not been measured practically before at this site. The experimental tests were carried out starting from 1 April 2022 and contin... [more]

During the Development Phase of the U.S. Southwest Regional Partnership on Carbon Sequestration, supercritical CO2 was continuously injected into the deep oil-bearing Morrow B formation of the Farnsworth Unit in Texas for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). The project injected approximately 94 kilotons of CO2 to study geologic carbon storage during CO2-EOR. A three-dimensional (3D) surface seismic dataset was acquired in 2013 to characterize the subsurface structures of the Farnsworth site. Following this data acquisition, the baseline and three time-lapse three-dimensional three-component (3D-3C) vertical seismic profiling (VSP) data were acquired at a narrower surface area surrounding the CO2 injection and oil/gas production wells between 2014 and 2017 for monitoring CO2 injection and migration. With these VSP datasets, we inverted for subsurface velocity models to quantitatively monitor the CO2 plume within the Morrow B formation. We first built 1D initial P-wave (Vp) and S-wave (Vs) velo... [more]

Distributed generation, which is mainly deployed with PV systems that benefit economically prosumers, has soared in use in Brazil. Despite this, PV capacity in excess may cause technical issues which concern planning engineers who have adopted rules of thumb to screen interconnection requests without any detailed study. Recently, the hosting capacity concept has been employed to assess how much PV capacity a distribution grid can host without deteriorating grid parameters, reliability, or power quality. A steady-state and worst-case-based scenario was used to run deterministic power flow simulations to estimate the hosting capacity of a specific radial circuit at a campus of the University of São Paulo, referred to as “USP-105”. Although the result may be not completely accurate, it was found that USP-105 can accommodate 103% of its peak load or 4970.6 kW of PV power, which reduced the circuit’s annual peak load by 9%. Another finding was that hosting capacity increased when PV-DG depl... [more]

This article deals with a LCC-LCC compensated dynamic wireless power transfer system for electric vehicle charging applications. The presented prototype system allows for a power transfer of about 10 kW at 20 cm coil copper to copper distance. With just one circular pickup coil and a very straightforward control scheme, a new coil arrangement enables a seamless power transfer. Furthermore, the system’s design power level is easily adjustable by the size of the the pickup coil. The hardware architecture as well as the software functionality are described in detail. A 20 m test track was built up according to the outlined principle. By measuring the transmitted power, the efficiency and the interference between the primary segments and its effect on the inverter currents are examined. The results show an effective DC to DC efficiency in the range of 91 to 92% and a power fluctuation of approximately 25%.

Climate change, the scarcity of fossil fuels, advances in clean energy, and volatility of crude oil prices have led to the recognition of clean energy as a viable alternative to dirty energy. This paper investigates the multifractal scaling behavior and efficiency of green finance markets, as well as traditional markets such as gold, crude oil, and natural gas between 1 January 2018, and 9 March 2023. To test the serial dependency (autocorrelation) and the efficient market hypothesis, in its weak form, we employed the Lo and Mackinlay test and the DFA method. The empirical findings showed that returns data series exhibit signs of (in)efficiency. Additionally, there is a negative autocorrelation among the crude oil market, the Clean Energy Fuels Index, the Global Clean Energy Index, the gold market, and the natural gas market. Arbitration strategies can be used to obtain abnormal returns, but caution should be exercised as prices may increase above their actual market value and reduce t... [more]

Researchers, architects and planners are increasingly urged to develop and apply sustainable methods and solutions to reduce the impact of the built environment on climate, adapt cities to climate change and reduce or eliminate resource depletion and building-related carbon emissions. In recent years, taking advantage of state-of-the-art computational and environmental design tools, researchers and designers are developing new digital workflows, methods and solutions to investigate climate-optimal and performative buildings and urban forms. This perspective paper analyses state-of-the-art computational methods; form generation processes; and tools, criteria and workflows that present how these are integrated into climatic form finding, allowing the improvement of building and urban environmental performances. Additionally, current challenges and future directions are presented.

In this paper, narrow-bandgap polymer acceptors combining a benzotriazole (BTz)-core fused-ring segment, named the PZT series, were used with a high-absorption-efficiency polymer (PBDB) compound with branched 2-butyl octyl, linear n-octyl, and methyl to be utilized as a graded-index (GI) active layer of the polymer solar cells (PSCs) to increase the photocurrent and enhance solar efficiency compared to the existing PBDB-T:PZT and PBDB-T:PZT-γ. In addition, a two-dimensional photonic crystal (2D-PhC) structure was utilized as a light-trapping anti-reflection coating (ARC) thin film based on indium tin oxide (ITO) to reduce incident light reflection and enhance its absorption. The dimensions of the cell layers were optimized to achieve the maximum power-conversion efficiency (PCE). Furthermore, the design and simulations were conducted from a 300 nm to 1200 nm wavelength range using a finite difference time-domain (FDTD) analysis. One of the most important results expected from the study... [more]

Human beings need abundant material support and energy supply in their exploration of the universe. The sustainable supply of materials is an important condition for long-term space exploration. In situ resource utilization technology (ISRU) is an important way to realize the sustainable development of space exploration, which uses the abundant raw materials in outer space to transform energy and materials. In this paper, a microfluidic reaction device based on in situ resource utilization is designed, which converts H2O and CO2 into O2 and organic matter through photoelectrocatalysis. The flow and mixing process of gas-liquid two-phase flow was studied, and both the characteristics of mass transfer and the chemical reaction of fluids in the microchannel were studied. The dynamic process of the fluid-in-microchannel chemical reaction was expounded, and a prediction model of the volumetric mass transfer coefficient was proposed. The results show that the mass transfer coefficient of the... [more]

This work demonstrates that the quasi-homogeneous distribution of concentrated solar flux is achievable by using double paraboloid reflection, with a primary reflector to concentrate the sunlight, and a secondary reflector to homogenise the radiation flux. For that, three slightly different secondary reflectors were designed and manufactured, matching the specifications of the paraboloid concentrator of the SF60 solar furnace located in PSA—Plataforma Solar de Almería, which was used as primary reflector. Starting from preliminary simulations of the optical apparatus, the secondary geometries were selected and then the reflectors were manufactured from 7075-T6 aluminium alloy, using conventional and CNC machining technologies, with further processing to achieve a mirror-like finish. The results obtained from solar irradiation tests corroborate that the “double paraboloid reflection” methodology proposed in previous theoretical works seems to be technically feasible and can be a solutio... [more]