It is of great significance to obtain the source of mixed gas emission from the working face and the law of gas emission from each coal seam for the targeted implementation of gas control measures. Based on the principle that the hydrocarbon isotope values of gas in different coal seams have significant variability, a hydrocarbon isotope method for identifying the source of gas emission is proposed. Taking Pingmei No. 6 Coal Mine as the study area, the distribution characteristics of each value were obtained by testing the values of carbon and hydrogen isotopes in the gas of mined coal seams and adjacent coal seams; by testing the hydrocarbon isotope value of CH4 in the mixed gas of coal seam, the proportion of gas emission in each coal seam is determined and the law of gas emission in each coal seam is studied. The results show that the variation law of the proportion of gas emission in each coal seam can be divided into three stages: the dominant stage of gas emission in the mining l... [more]

Electronic devices are commonly used for exploiting and extracting shale oil in deep downhole environments. However, high−temperature−and−pressure downhole environments jeopardize the safe operation of electronic components due to their severe thermal conditions. In the present study, an active thermal−insulation system is proposed, which consists of a spiral annular cooling plate (ACP), a thermal storage container with phase−change material (PCM) and an aerogel mat (AM). The effect of the ACP’s structure, layout and working−medium flowrate on the heat−protection performance were experimentally measured; temperature−control capability and system−operating time were used as the criteria. The results show that the AM layer is necessary and that the inner−ACP case displays better thermal−protection performance. Next, a dimensionless temperature−control factor (TCF) was proposed to evaluate the trade−off between temperature control and the system’s operating time. Note that the TCF of the... [more]

A solution to increase the electrical output of the photovoltaic systems relies on solar tracking mechanisms that increase the amount of received solar energy. The experimental results obtained during a monitoring period of one year are comparatively presented in the paper for five types of photovoltaic modules installed on a fixed platform (as reference) and on a dual-axis solar tracking platform in the Renewable Energy Systems and Recycling R&D Centre of the Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania. The influence of the solar-tracking mechanism and the meteorological conditions specific to the four seasons during the monitoring period on the output of the analysed photovoltaic technologies are discussed in the paper. The solar tracking increases by 28% the amount of the yearly received solar energy and by 29.6% the electrical energy output of the entire PV platform. The solar conversion efficiency of the tracked PV platform is slightly increased (14.34%) when compared with the fixe... [more]

Climate change has made the decarbonization of the different domestic economies a widely accepted and urgent priority. Yet, this is a very challenging task in a largely uncharted territory. In this context, in this paper, we address the issue of energy taxation reform with an environmental focus in Portugal. We do so using a multi-sector and multi-household dynamic computable general equilibrium model of the Portuguese economy. We analyze the environmental, macroeconomic, and distributional effects of different policies replacing current energy taxation with carbon taxation and, then, extend the carbon taxation to the levels necessary to achieve the IPCC 2018 emissions reduction targets. Our analysis indicates a clear path in the quest for decarbonization. First, replace energy taxes with a carbon tax; second, adopt the levels of carbon taxation necessary to achieve the emissions goals; third, use extra tax revenues from the carbon tax to reverse any potential adverse macroeconomic and... [more]

This article presents the research process and statistical analysis of the selection of an appropriate type of surfactant to be added to natural ester oil MIDEL eN 1204. The tested parameter was the breakdown voltage. The following surfactants were tested: Triton X, ROKwino l80, and oleic acid. With the obtained results, we can conclude that the surfactants with the best properties, compared to the basic oil sample, have oleic acid, and also that high levels of breakdown voltage characterize a sample of Triton X with a concentration of 2%. Statistical analysis was performed using the MATLAB program.

Power system stability has been suffering increasing threats with the ever-growing penetration of intermittent renewable generation such as wind power and solar power. Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) could mitigate frequency fluctuation of the power system because of their accurate regulation capability and rapid response. By dividing the Area Control Error (ACE) signal and the State of Charge (SOC) of battery energy storage systems into different intervals, the frequency control task of BESSs could be determined by considering the frequency control demand of the power grid in each interval and SOC self-recovery. The well-developed model predictive control can be employed to attain the optimal control variable sequence of BESSs in the following time, which can determine the output depths of BESSs and action timing at different intervals. The simulation platform MATLAB/Simulink is used to build two secondary frequency control scenarios of BESSs for providing frequency regulation... [more]

To solve the challenge of low efficiency and high operation cost caused by intermittent high-power charging in an energy storage tram, this work presents a collaborative power supply system with supercapacitor energy storage. The scheme can reduce the peak power of the transformer, therefore reducing the grid-side capacity and improving the efficiency. However, there is a lack of quantitative analysis on the performance improvement of the solution. The energy efficiency models of critical components are proposed to evaluate the efficiency of the system, and energy efficiency optimization is conducted. Taking an operational tram line as an example, the improved charging efficiency and reduced operating costs are derived. Further, the ground energy storage capacity is designed and implemented. The measured data demonstrates that the energy efficiency of the optimized charging system is improved, which proves its effectiveness and practicability.

There is an international consensus that reductions of CO2 emissions are needed in order to reduce global warming. So far, underground aquifer storage of CO2 is the only commercially active option, and it has been so since 1996, when STAOIL started injecting a million tons of CO2 per year into the Utsira formation. Storage of CO2 in the form of solid hydrate is another option that is safer. Injection of CO2 into CH4 hydrate-filled sediments can lead to an exchange in which the in situ CH4 hydrate dissociates and releases CH4. Two types of additives are needed, however, to make this exchange feasible. The primary objective of the first additive is related to hydrodynamics and the need to increase injection gas permeability relative to injection of pure CO2. This type of additive is typically added in amounts resulting in concentration ranges of additive in the order of tens of percentages of CO2/additive mixture. These additives will, therefore, have impact on the thermodynamic properti... [more]

Since plastic wastes are commonly found and accumulate in numerous types and forms, the pyrolysis of plastic waste mixtures seems more feasible to be selected for large-scale production. However, the process typically produces less liquid than individual plastic pyrolysis. This study proposed a viable approach for catalytic pyrolysis by using natural mineral catalysts without modification. Bentonite was selected as a natural mineral catalyst while HZSM-5 was used for performance comparison. The process was evaluated in situ using a fixed-bed reactor at temperatures between 400 °C and 500 °C. The mixture of plastic waste composition was designed based on the non-recycled plastics data. The results showed that 42.55 wt% of liquid yield was obtained from thermal pyrolysis using Malaysia’s non-recycled plastics data. It was then found that using HZSM-5 and bentonite catalysts significantly boosted liquid products to about 56 and 60%, respectively. The presence of catalysts also positively... [more]

The main aim of this work was to provide heat transfer calculations of flow boiling in mini-channels with an application for the Trefftz functions. The test section comprised five parallel mini-channels with a depth of 1 mm, with a common heated wall. For the estimation of the temperature uncertainty, during the experiment the temperature measurement was performed with the use of K-type thermoelements and an infrared camera in two mini-channels simultaneously. According to the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement, the Monte Carlo method is a practical alternative to the GUM uncertainty framework. Since the uncertainty components are not approximately the same magnitude, the Monte Carlo method was indicated to estimate the uncertainty of the surface temperature measurement. The results obtained from this simulation method were compared with the results of the computation related to the uncertainty propagation method. The results of both methods of temperature measuremen... [more]

Combined heat and power (CHP) plants have opportunities to work as distributed power generation for providing heat and power demand. Furthermore, CHP plants contribute effectively to overcoming the intermittence of renewable energy sources as well as load dynamics. CHP plants need optimal solution(s) for providing electrical and heat energy demand simultaneously within the smart network environment. CHP or cogeneration plant operations need appropriate techno-economic dispatching of combined heat and power with minimising produced energy cost. The interrelationship between heat and power development in a CHP unit, the valve point loading effect, and forbidden working regions of a thermal power plant make the CHP economic dispatch’s (CHPED) objective function discontinuous. It adds complexity in the CHPED optimisation process. The key objective of the CHPED is operating cost minimisation while meeting the desired power and heat demand. To optimise the dispatch operation, three different... [more]

The hydrothermal characteristics of (Ag+TiO2+H2O) hybrid nanofluid three dimensional flow between two vertical plates, in which the right permeable plate stretches as well as rotates, are investigated by employing varying magnetic, heat and radiation fluxes. The motion is governed by coupled PDEs (nonlinear) obeying suitable boundary conditions. The PDEs coupled system is transformed to a coupled set of nonlinear ODEs employing appropriate similarity transformation relations. The resultant equations are numerically solved through the bv4c solver. The impact of the changing strength of associated parameters on the flow is investigated graphically and through tables. It has been found that the velocity gradient and velocity initially increase and then decrease with increasing Grashof number values in both the suction and injection cases. The enhancing magnetic field first augments and then lowers the velocity gradient in the presence of radiation source of maximum strength. The increasin... [more]

This study presents the characteristics and performance of a motor at the operating point based on pulse-width modulation (PWM). PWM is used in modulating the output voltage of a three-phase inverter. The PWM technique has advantages and disadvantages depending on the system size and operating range. For example, some discontinuous pulse-width modulation (DPWM) techniques are advantageous in low-cost systems because they can reduce the number of switches. Some PWM techniques are complicated for software construction and require a lot of computation. In this paper, PWM techniques were constructed by using the offset voltage injection method. Therefore, the construction of the PWM technique is simplified by the method. In an experimental setup, an interior permanent-magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) and a three-phase inverter were implemented to test motor control performance depending on the PWM technique. In addition, the current control characteristics and inverter efficiency were anal... [more]

One of the major paradigm shifts that will be predictably observed in the energy mix is related to distribution networks. Until now, this type of electrical grid was characterized by an AC transmission. However, a new concept is emerging, as the electrical distribution networks characterized by DC transmission are beginning to be considered as a promising solution due to technological advances. In fact, we are now witnessing a proliferation of DC equipment associated with renewable energy sources, storage systems and loads. Thus, such equipment is beginning to be considered in different contexts. In this way, taking into consideration the requirement for the fast integration of this equipment into the existing electrical network, DC networks have started to become important. On the other hand, the importance of the development of these DC networks is not only due to the fact that the amount of DC equipment is becoming huge. When compared with the classical AC transmission systems, the... [more]

This paper focuses on the purpose to see if it is possible to increase the earnings associated to the installation of PV systems in people’s homes. In accordance with this, a different way of thinking was adopted, namely the investment in batteries to maximize the energy earnings. The main problem of this classical approach is that the investment in those batteries is important. In this way, a different perspective was taken into account, namely the use of the electrical vehicles. This kind of vehicles is starting to become a real reality. In fact, the selling of these vehicles start to become a solution for the ordinary people, and it is expected in a very near future to be a reality for most of them. Thus, this study presents the use of a storage system based on the vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology for the people’s homes. The V2H availability varies among prosumers profile regarding the daily routines, weather conditions, and business aspects, besides other aspects. These profiles we... [more]

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) technology was used to carbonize and improve biomass raw material to obtain hydrochar. The effects of HTC temperature and holding time on the yield, composition, structure, combustion behavior, and safety of hydrochar were studied systematically. In addition, the results show that with the increase in HTC temperature and the prolongation of holding time, the yield of hydrochar gradually reduces, the fixed carbon content of hydrochar increases, the volatile content decreases, and a large number of ash and alkali metals enter the liquid phase and are removed. Further, the analysis of the combustion properties and the structure of hydrochar can be observed in that, as the HTC process promotes the occurrence of polymerization reactions, the specific surface area gradually reduces, the degree of carbon ordering increases, and the combustion curve moves toward the high-temperature zone and gradually approaches bituminous coal. Since biomass hydrochar has the... [more]

Large-eddy simulations (LES) were performed to study the turbulent flow in a channel of height H with a staggered array of pin fins with diameter D = H/2 as a function of heating loads that are relevant to the cooling of turbine blades and vanes. The following three heating loads were investigated—wall-to-coolant temperatures of Tw/Tc = 1.01, 2.0, and 4.0—where the Reynolds number at the channel inlet was 10,000 and the back pressure at the channel outlet was 1 bar. For the LES, two different subgrid-scale models—the dynamic kinetic energy model (DKEM) and the wall-adapting local eddy-viscosity model (WALE)—were examined and compared. This study was validated by comparing with data from direct numerical simulation and experimental measurements. The results obtained show high heating loads to create wall jets next to all heated surfaces that significantly alter the structure of the turbulent flow. Results generated on effects of heat loads on the mean and fluctuating components of veloc... [more]

The energy utilization of the transportation industry is increasing tremendously. The battery is one of the primary energy sources for a green and clean mode of transportation, but variations in driving profiles (NYCC, Artemis Urban, WLTP class-1) and higher C-rates affect the battery performance and lifespan of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Hence, as a singular power source, batteries have difficulty in tackling these issues in BEVs, highlighting the significance of hybrid-source electric vehicles (HSEVs). The supercapacitor (SC) and photovoltaic panels (PVs) are the auxiliary power sources coupled with the battery in the proposed hybrid electric three-wheeler (3W). However, energy management strategies (EMS) are critical to ensure optimal and safe power allocation in HSEVs. A novel adaptive Intelligent Hybrid Source Energy Management Strategy (IHSEMS) is proposed to perform energy management in hybrid sources. The IHSEMS optimizes the power sources using an absolute energy-sharin... [more]

The growing number of electric vehicles (EVs) affects the national electricity system in terms of power demand and load variation. Turning our attention to Italy, the number of vehicles on the road is 39 million; this represents a major challenge, as they will need to be recharged constantly when the transition to electric technology is complete. If we consider that the average power is 55 GW and the installed system can produce 120 GW of peak power, we can calculate that with only 5% of vehicles in recharging mode, the power demand increases to 126 GW, which is approximately 140% of installed power. The integration of renewable energy sources will help the grid, but this solution is less useful for handling large load variations that negatively affect the grid. In addition, some vehicles committed to public utility must have a reduced stop time and can be considered to have higher priority. The introduction of priorities implies that the power absorption limit cannot be easily introdu... [more]

In response to the escalating global energy requests and the need to address them in a sustainable manner, researchers have identified hydrogen as an energy vector that provides a practical way to store and use energy from renewable sources. To make a step forward, the electrocatalytic properties for the hydrogen evolution reaction in an alkaline medium of graphite electrodes modified with combinations of nickel phosphite and free-base porphyrins were investigated voltammetrically. The sample obtained by combining the respective phosphite with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin exhibited the highest catalytic activity, surpassing that observed for the specimens manufactured using the individual catalysts and thus providing enhanced water-splitting performance. The best electrode displayed an overpotential of 0.43 V (at i = −10 mA/cm2) and a Tafel slope of 0.14 V/dec. Since the catalytic activity of the compositions containing the metal salt and the porphyrins has not been pr... [more]

Sustainable development has positioned itself as a fundamental element of a transversal nature, being linked to the energy transition. In this sense, it must be included as a mainstream objective of all actions and strategies developed at the social, academic, business, and political levels. However, to the best of our knowledge, no bibliometric work has been carried out to date to analyze the main contributions to the literature focused on the concepts of renewable energy and sustainable development. The main aim of this paper is to establish the key trends and academic contributions made in the field of renewable energies and sustainable development. For this purpose, a bibliometric and co-citation analysis has been carried out using the Bibliometrix® tool, an open-source R package. The results show that this is a field of study that has significantly increased its importance in recent years, which is illustrated using different indicators. We conclude that research trends seem to be... [more]

The increase in energy costs has led researchers and practitioners to investigate the energy consumption of buildings and propose solutions for its improvement. This research aimed at estimating the effect of different temperature control strategies on the energy consumption of a building. This study belongs to the field of research that considers both the structural characteristics and the conditioning systems incorporated into the design or renovation of buildings. The objective was to identify the optimal settings that led to the maximization of energy performance under intermittent occupancy considering the building’s structural and conditioning system characteristics and environmental conditions. To reach this objective, it was necessary to use simulation software that considered all these characteristics simultaneously in a dynamic environment. Specifically, the effect of the geometric and structural characteristics on the thermal profile of the building was investigated by imple... [more]

The task of controlling a wheeled mobile robot is an important element of navigation algorithms. The control algorithm manages the robot’s movement in accordance with the path determined by the planner module, where the accuracy of mapping the given route is very important. Most often, mobile robots are battery-powered, which makes minimizing energy consumption and shortening travel time an important issue. For this reason, in this work, the mobile robot control algorithm was tested in terms of energy consumption, travel time and path mapping accuracy. During the research, a criterion was developed, thanks to which it was possible to select the optimal parameters of the pure pursuit algorithm that controls the movement of the tested robot. The research was carried out in the Laboratory of Intelligent Mobile Robots using the QBot2e mobile robot operating on the basis of differential drive kinematics. As a result of the research, optimal values of the control parameters were obtained, mi... [more]

Fuel and oil spills during the exploration, refining, and distribution of oil and petrochemicals are primarily responsible for the accumulation of organic pollutants in the environment. The reduction in contamination caused by hydrocarbons, heavy metals, oily effluents, and particulate matter generated by industrial activities and the efficient recovery of oil at great depths in an environmentally friendly way pose a challenge, as recovery and cleaning processes require the direct application of surface-active agents, detergents, degreasers, or solvents, often generating other environmental problems due to the toxicity and accumulation of these substances. Thus, the application of natural surface-active agents is an attractive solution. Due to their amphipathic structures, microbial surfactants solubilize oil through the formation of small aggregates (micelles) that disperse in water, with numerous applications in the petroleum industry. Biosurfactants have proven their usefulness in s... [more]

This paper reviews the artificial intelligent algorithms in engine management. This study provides a clear image of the current state of affairs for the past 15 years and provides fresh insights and improvements for future directions in the field of engine management. The scope of this paper comprises three main aspects to be discussed, namely, engine performance, engine control, and engine diagnosis. The first is associated with the need to control the basic characteristics that prove that the engine is working properly, namely, emission control and fuel economy. Engine control refers to the ability to identify and fulfill the requirements derived from performance, emissions, and durability. In this part, hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) application and transient operations are discussed. Lastly, engine diagnosis entails assessment techniques that can be used to identify problems in the engine and solve them accordingly. In this part, misfire detection, knock detection, and intake system... [more]