褐煤混煤燃烧特性的热重分析法研究

利用热重分析法对三种褐煤及其混煤的热解、着火和燃尽等燃烧特笥及其活化能进行了研究。试验结果表明，混煤中的单一煤种在混煤燃烧过程中基本保持各自的着火和燃尽特性；而其热解特性和活化能与掺混比例有关。提出了能够表征单煤及混煤燃烧性能的综合燃烧特性指数SN。     

混煤掺混方式对燃烧特性影响的实验研究

利用STA449F3型热重分析仪对邵阳龙坪煤与河南义马煤两种典型煤种按照不同的掺混比例及掺混方式进行研究,得到混煤燃烧的相关特性参数.研究结果表明:随着易着火煤种掺混比例的增加,各混煤的着火特性、燃烧特性和综合燃烧特性都有明显改善.磨前掺混方式混煤燃烧性能明显要优于磨后掺混方式.在邵阳龙坪煤所占比例为20％时,混煤燃烧性能较佳,适于电厂配煤燃烧.     

混煤燃烧特性的热重试验研究

对不同配比下由烟煤、无烟煤和褐煤掺混得到的混煤的燃烧性能进行了热天平试验研究，对不同配比下混煤的活化能进行了计算，并根据活化能与着火温度随掺混比的变化规律对混煤的着火特性进行了探讨;此外根据不同掺混比下煤样的试验数据，从阿累尼乌斯定律出发，提出了表征煤在着火后燃烧速度和燃烧稳定性指数HF，对不同配比下煤的HF进行了计算，并据此对混煤的稳燃及燃尽性能进行了研究。图11表2参5     

混煤燃烧动力学参数的热重试验研究

对不同配比下由烟煤、无烟煤和褐煤掺混得到的混煤的燃烧性能进行了热天平试验研究,从阿累尼乌斯定律出发,对不同配比下混煤的燃烧动力学参数进行了计算。并根据活化能随掺混比的变化规律,提出在无烟煤中掺入烟煤或褐煤,对煤的着火性能有较大的改善作用;而当着火性能相近的两种煤进行掺混时,煤的活化能比将单一煤种活化能按比例加权平均值大,混煤的着火性能更接近活化能大的煤。     

恒温下准东煤粉燃烧特性研究

针对准东煤碱金属含量高导致灰熔融温度低、在燃烧过程中容易造成沾污及结焦等问题,利用恒温热重实验系统,研究了准东煤的燃烧特性及温度、煤种掺混等对燃烧特性的影响。实验结果表明：单煤煤种燃烧过程中,不同煤种燃尽时间、燃烧速率存在显著差异,其中路茂通坎乡煤种和永华金泰煤种差异最大,路茂通坎乡煤种易着火,燃烧速率快,燃尽时间短;随着温度升高,单煤燃烧失重曲线发生左移,燃尽时间缩短,燃烧速率上升,表明温度升高会加速煤粉燃烧,并且1 000℃后提高温度对焦碳燃尽的促进作用更明显;掺混燃烧过程中,掺烧高挥发分的煤种可以有效改善煤粉燃烧初期着火特性,而掺烧高固定碳煤种可使燃尽时间延长,从而降低燃尽率;混煤掺烧能够提高灰熔点,有效改善准东煤熔融特性,从而在煤源方面减少或者避免炉膛受热面沾污、结渣,确保锅炉运行的安全性和经济性。     

褐煤及其混煤燃烧特性试验研究

将小龙潭煤和先锋煤两种褐煤按不同比例混合进行热重分析研究.分析单一煤种及不同配比混煤的燃烧特性的差异,提出了反映煤燃烧着火及燃尽的燃烧特性综合判断指数.并根据化学动力学方法计算了各过程的化学动力学参数活化能和频率因子.     

不同煤种混煤燃烧时NO_x生成和燃尽特性的试验

在一维沉降炉上对无烟煤、贫煤、烟煤及其混煤的燃烧特性进行了研究，分析了不同因素对NOx排放量的影响，并讨论了不同过量空气系数、掺混比及一、二次风比例对燃尽率的影响，试验结果表明：当烟煤的掺混比例为25％，NOx的排放量较低，混煤燃烧时沿程分析结果表明，煤种特性的不同导致NOx排放时有不同的峰值。     

恒温混煤热重及同步NO生成特性研究

利用自制能实现恒温下煤粉热重测量的试验台研究了几种典型煤种单煤及混煤燃烧的失重特性,并同步测试了NO的生成特性.结果表明:煤粉中掺烧印尼褐煤能增大整体平均失重速率和提前燃尽时刻,且对于煤阶越高的煤其影响越显著;混煤整体平均失重速率、初始反应阶段平均失重速率与掺混比具有良好的线性相关性;混煤燃烧时NO生成累积质量小于各单煤生成累积质量的加权值;塔山烟煤和印尼褐煤氮析出时,相互制约程度较大,导致塔山烟煤与印尼褐煤混煤NO生成累积质量试验值与加权值相差较大.     

五彩湾煤燃烧特性的试验研究

对五彩湾煤与乌东煤2种煤种及3种不同掺烧比例的混煤分别进行了物理化学特性分析、煤粉气流着火温度测试、一维火焰炉中燃烧与结渣试验以及200kW沾污试验台的沾污性能试验,并对各种混煤的着火、燃尽和结渣性能进行了评定.利用专家系统对试验煤样的主要特性进行了最终评价,并结合2种沾污性能判别指标对煤灰的沾污性能进行了验证,给出推荐的设计煤种和校核煤种.结果表明:混煤具有严重结渣倾向;五彩湾煤具有严重的沾污倾向,而乌东煤为低沾污倾向煤种,通过掺烧乌东煤可以减轻五彩湾煤的沾污;推荐选用五彩湾煤与乌东煤的掺烧比例为7∶3和5∶5的混煤1和混煤3分别作为设计煤种和校核煤种.     

煤掺混燃烧时氮析出特性的试验研究

在一维煤粉燃烧试验台上对电站动力用单种煤及其混煤燃烧时氮氧化物的析出特性进行了试验研究，主要探讨组分煤种的煤质比例以及掺混比例对氮氧化物析出的影响规律。研究结果表明：NOx主要是在煤粉着火过程中产生的，其生成量与煤中的氮含量和挥发分含量密切相关；混煤燃烧时，各组分煤种氮的析出是既独立又相互影响的，混煤氮的析出曲线一般具有“双峰”结构，峰值区域较宽，其NOx生成量与各组分煤种的氮含量基本呈线性关系。掺烧比例对混煤氮的析出有较大影响，在贫煤中掺混其它煤种时，混煤氮的析出时间、析出浓度与各组分煤种的加权平均值有一定差异。     

Natural-gas fueled spark-ignition (SI) and compression-ignition (CI) engine performance and emissions

Natural gas is a fossil fuel that has been used and investigated extensively for use in spark-ignition (SI) and compression-ignition (CI) engines. Compared with conventional gasoline engines, SI engines using natural gas can run at higher compression ratios, thus producing higher thermal efficiencies but also increased nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions, while producing lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO). These engines also produce relatively less power than gasoline-fueled engines because of the convergence of one or more of three factors: a reduction in volumetric efficiency due to natural-gas injection in the intake manifold; the lower stoichiometric fuel/air ratio of natural gas compared to gasoline; and the lower equivalence ratio at which these engines may be run in order to reduce NO_x emissions. High NO_x emissions, especially at high loads, reduce with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). However, EGR rates above a maximum value result in misfire and erratic engine operation. Hydrogen gas addition increases this EGR threshold significantly. In addition, hydrogen increases the flame speed of the natural gas-hydrogen mixture. Power levels can be increased with supercharging or turbocharging and intercooling. Natural gas is used to power CI engines via the dual-fuel mode, where a high-cetane fuel is injected along with the natural gas in order to provide a source of ignition for the charge. Thermal efficiency levels compared with normal diesel-fueled CI-engine operation are generally maintained with dual-fuel operation, and smoke levels are reduced significantly. At the same time, lower NO_x and CO₂ emissions, as well as higher HC and CO emissions compared with normal CI-engine operation at low and intermediate loads are recorded. These trends are caused by the low charge temperature and increased ignition delay, resulting in low combustion temperatures. Another factor is insufficient penetration and distribution of the pilot fuel in the charge, resulting in a lack of ignition centers. EGR admission at low and intermediate loads increases combustion temperatures, lowering unburned HC and CO emissions. Larger pilot fuel quantities at these load levels and hydrogen gas addition can also help increase combustion efficiency. Power output is lower at certain conditions than diesel-fueled engines, for reasons similar to those affecting power output of SI engines. In both cases the power output can be maintained with direct injection. Overall, natural gas can be used in both engine types; however further refinement and optimization of engines and fuel-injection systems is needed.     

Decomposition of limestone in a solar reactor

The thermal decomposition of limestone has been selected as a model reaction for developing and testing an atmospheric open solar reactor. The reactor consists of a cyclone gas/particle separator which has been modified to let the concentrated solar energy enter through a windowless aperture. The reacting particles are directly exposed to the solar irradiation. Experimentation with a 60 kW reactor prototype was conducted at PSI's 90m² parabolic solar concentrator, in a continuous mode of operation. A counter-current flow heat exchanger was employed to preheat the reactants. Eighty five percent degree of calcination was obtained for cement raw material and 15% of the solar input was converted into chemical energy (enthalpy).The technical feasibility of the solar thermal decomposition of limestone was experimentally demonstrated. The use of solar energy as a source for high-temperature process heat offers the potential of reducing significantly the CO₂ emissions from lime producing plants. Such a solar thermochemical process can find application in sunny rural areas for avoiding deforestation.     

Biohydrogen production by Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 wild-type and mutants under different conditions: Light, nickel, propane, carbon dioxide and nitrogen

Increasing awareness of environmental problems caused by the current use of fossil fuel-based energy, has led to the search for alternatives. Hydrogen is a good alternative and the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 is naturally able to produce molecular hydrogen, photosynthetically from water and light. However, this H₂ is rapidly consumed by the uptake hydrogenase.This study evaluated the hydrogen production of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 wild-type and mutants: hupL⁻ (deficient in the uptake hydrogenase), hoxH⁻ (deficient in the bidirectional hydrogenase) and hupL⁻/hoxH⁻ (deficient in both hydrogenases) on several experimental conditions, such as gas atmosphere (argon and propane with or without N₂ and/or CO₂ addition), light intensity (54 and 152 ??Em⁻²s⁻¹), light regime (continuous and light/dark cycles 16 h/8 h) and nickel concentrations in the culture medium.In every assay, the hupL⁻ and hupL⁻/hoxH⁻ mutants stood out over wild-type cells and the hoxH⁻ mutant. Nevertheless, the hupL⁻ mutant showed the best hydrogen production except in an argon atmosphere under 16 h light/8 h dark cycles at 54 ??Em⁻²s⁻¹ in the light period, with 1 ??M of NiCl₂ supplementation in the culture medium, and under a propane atmosphere.In all strains, higher light intensity leads to higher hydrogen production and if there is a daily 1% of CO₂ addition in the gas atmosphere, hydrogen production could increase 5.8 times, related to the great increase in heterocysts differentiation (5 times more, approximately), whereas nickel supplementation in the culture medium was not shown to increase hydrogen production. The daily incorporation of 1% of CO₂ plus 1% of N₂ did not affect positively hydrogen production rate.     

Investigation of the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of La–Fe–B system hydrogen-storage alloys

La–Fe–B hydrogen-storage alloys were prepared using a vacuum induction-quenching furnace with a rotating copper wheel. The thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the La–Fe–B hydrogen-storage alloys were investigated in this work. The P–C–I curves of the La–Fe–B alloys were measured over a H₂ pressure range of 10⁻³ MPa to 2.0 MPa at temperatures of 313, 328, 343 and 353 K. The P–C–I curves revealed that the maximum hydrogen-storage capacity of the alloys exceeded 1.23 wt% at a pressure of approximately 1.0 MPa and temperature of 313 K. The standard enthalpy of formation ΔH and standard entropy of formation ΔS for the alloys' hydrides, obtained according to the van't Hoff equation, were consistent with their application as anode materials in alkaline media. The alloys also exhibited good absorption/desorption kinetics at room temperature.     

The Solar Office in context

The goal of sustainability in buildings can only hope to be realised if buildings are designed to both conserve and generate energy. The Solar Office at Doxford International is designed to minimise the use of energy while its external fabric is designed to replace such energy that is used. The recently completed building is now subject of a comprehensive monitoring programme. The programme covers both the performance of the 73 kW_p photovoltaic installation and the environmental conditions within the building as a whole. Hour by hour findings are posted on a dedicated web site. Photovoltaics could have the same impact on building form and layout as the invention of the passenger lift at the end of the last century.     

Hydrogen recovery from the photovoltaic electroflocculation-flotation process for harvesting Chlorella pyrenoidosa microalgae

In this paper, an integrated process using photovoltaic power to harvest microalgae by electro-flocculation (EF) and hydrogen recovery is presented. It is mainly favorable in regions with high solar radiation. The electro-flocculation efficiency (EFE) of Chlorella pyrenoidosa microalgae was investigated using various types of electrodes (aluminum, iron, zinc, copper and a non-sacrificial electrode of carbon). The best results regarding the EFE, and biomass contamination were achieved with aluminum and carbon electrodes where the electrical energy demand of the process for harvesting 1 kg of algae biomass was 0.28 and 0.34 kWh, respectively, while the energy yield of harvested hydrogen was 0.052 and 0.005 kWh kg^?1, respectively. The highest harvesting efficiency of 95.83 ± 0.87% was obtained with the aluminum electrode.The experimental hydrogen yields obtained were comparable with those calculated from theory. With a low net energy demand, microalgae EF may be a useful and low-cost technology.     

Electrochemical behavior of Mg–Li,Mg–Li–Al and Mg–Li–Al–Ce in sodium chloride solution

Mg–Li, Mg–Li–Al and Mg–Li–Al–Ce alloys were prepared and their electrochemical behavior in 0.7 M NaCl solutions was investigated by means of potentiodynamic polarization, potentiostatic current–time and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements as well as by scanning electron microscopy examination. The effect of gallium oxide as an electrolyte additive on the potentiostatic discharge performance of these magnesium alloys was studied. The discharge activities and utilization efficiencies of these alloys increase in the order: Mg–Li < Mg–Li–Al < Mg–Li–Al–Ce, both in the absence and presence of Ga₂O₃. These alloys are more active than commercial magnesium alloy AZ31. The addition of Ga₂O₃ into NaCl electrolyte solution improved the discharging currents of the alloys by more than 4%, and enhanced the utilization efficiencies of the alloys by more than 6%. It also shortened the transition time for the discharge current to reach to a steady value. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements showed that the polarization resistance of the alloys decreases in the following order: Mg–Li > Mg–Li–Al > Mg–Li–Al–Ce. Mg–Li–Al–Ce exhibited the best performance in term of activity, utilization efficiency and activation time.     

Temperature dependence of the enthalpy of formation of metal hydrides characterized by an excess volume

A universal framework to calculate the temperature dependence of the excess enthalpy present in regions characterized by an excess volume is calculated for metals and metal hydrides. At high temperatures, the different contributions from the pressure–volume, heat capacity, entropy and work associated with the thermal expansion are studied separately and their magnitudes and signs are compared. It is found that the pressure–volume contribution opposes and dominates the other three contributions at both high temperature and excess volume, and it is thus found that this contribution becomes the leading temperature dependent contribution to the enthalpy of a material. The conditions under which a temperature change will reduce the enthalpy of formation of metal hydrides are also given and the Mg/MgH₂ system is studied as an example. Excluding the heat capacity contribution, an increase in temperature tends to offset the effect of the excess volume on the enthalpy of formation. It is also demonstrated that the impact of temperature will be more favorable to a reduction of the enthalpy of formation if a large fraction of the metal hydride is in a state of small excess volume compared to a small fraction of the hydride in a state of high excess volume.     

Ash-forming elements in four Scandinavian wood species. Part 1: Summer harvest

Woody biomass in Finland and Sweden comprises mainly four wood species: spruce, pine, birch and aspen. To study the ash, which may cause problems for the combustion device, one tree of each species were cut down and prepared for comparisons with fuel samples. Well-defined samples of wood, bark and foliage were analyzed on 11 ash-forming elements: Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Na, K, P, S and Cl. The ash content in the wood tissues (0.2–0.7%) was low compared to the ash content in the bark tissues (1.9–6.4%) and the foliage (2.4–7.7%). The woods’ content of ash-forming elements was consequently low; the highest contents were of Ca (410–1340 ppm) and K (200–1310), followed by Mg (70–290), Mn (15–240) and P (0–350). Present in the wood was also Si (50–190), S (50–200) and Cl (30–110). The bark tissues showed much higher element contents; Ca (4800–19,100 ppm) and K (1600–6400) were the dominating elements, followed by Mg (210–2400), P (210–1200), Mn (110–1100) and S (310–750), but the Cl contents (40–330) were only moderately higher in the bark than in the wood. The young foliage (shoots and deciduous leaves) had the highest K (7100–25,000 ppm), P (1600–5300) and S (1100–2600) contents of all tissues, while the shoots of spruce had the highest Cl contents (820–1360) and its needles the highest Si content (5000–11,300). This paper presented a new approach in fuel characterization: the method excludes the presence of impurities, and focus on different categories of plant tissues. This made it possible to discuss the contents of ash element in a wide spectrum of fuel-types, which are of large importance for the energy production in Finland and Sweden.     

Tailored solar optics for maximal optical tolerance and concentration

Recently identified fundamental classes of dual-mirror double-tailored nonimaging optics have the potential to satisfy the pragmatic exigencies of concentrator photovoltaics. Via a comprehensive survey of their parameter space, including raytrace verification, we identify champion high-concentration high-efficiency designs that offer unprecedented optical tolerance (i.e., sensitivity to off-axis orientation) - a pivotal figure-of-merit with a basic bound that depends on concentration, exit angle, and effective solar angular radius. For comparison, results for the best corresponding dual-mirror aplanatic concentrators are also presented.