Systematic approach for recognizing limiting factors for growth of biomethane use in transportation sector – A case study in Finland

In this paper, limiting factors for increased use of biomethane as a transportation fuel are studied. The aim of this research is to recognize and estimate the limiting factors for biomethane utilization in the transportation sector. The limiting factors are studied by using calculation models from Life cycle perspective and literature reviews. According to the results, the main limiting factors can be classified into the following categories: production potential, technology, economy or policy. For biomethane utilization in Finland, the main limiting factors seem to be the lack of distribution infrastructure in northern parts of the country and the uncertain economical feasibility for agricultural biomass producers and for vehicle owners. From the political perspective, the external costs for petrol operated vehicles are higher than for biomethane operated vehicles. Reductions from the external costs could be used by political decisions as a base to support the growth of biomethane in the transportation sector which could lead to GHG emission reductions. A similar systematic approach can also be used to study limiting factors for other transportation energy systems.     

Material-point erosion simulation of dynamic fragmentation of metals

We present a validation assessment of the eigenerosion scheme applied in conjunction with the Optimal Transportation Meshfree (OTM) method. The assessment is based on the detonation-driven 304L steel spherical-cap fragmentation experiments of Campbell et al. (2007). Metrics used for purposes of validation include the velocity history of a witness point of the shell and the histogram of recovered fragment sizes. The results of the simulations are found to be in overall good agreement with the experimental measurements, especially when allowances are made for uncertainties in the characterization of the drive and material properties. The ability of the approach to predictively simulate exceedingly complex patterns of fracture and fragmentation under severe conditions of loading and material behavior is remarkable, especially in consideration of the simplicity of the fracture model and its implementation.     

Strategic planning optimization for natural gas to liquid transportation fuel (GTL) systems

A strategic planning optimization model is proposed for a network of natural gas to liquids (GTL) systems, and it is solved using a rolling horizon strategy. The model formulation determines the strategic and tactical decisions of the GTL supply chain over a long time horizon. The decisions to build new GTL refineries may be made over the span of 30 years and their operations cover the span of 60 years. Multiple capacities of GTL refineries (i.e., 1, 5, 10, 50, and 200 thousand barrels per day) that produce gasoline, diesel, and kerosene commensurate to the United States demand ratio may exist in the network. The parameter inputs include the locations, availabilities, and prices of natural gas in the United States discretized by county, the delivery locations of fuel products, and the transportation costs of every input and output of the refinery, defined for each time period. Formulated as a large-scale mixed-integer linear optimization (MILP) model, the problem is solved using a rolling horizon strategy for tractability. Case studies on the state of Pennsylvania are presented for different planning schemes and their impact on the economic performance of the GTL network is discussed.     

Hydrogen and ethanol: Production,storage, and transportation

The present paper provides insights into the feasibility of using hydrogen and bioethanol blends as energy carriers in the foreseeable future upon discussions on the advantages and the disadvantages. The comprehensive overviews on the production, storage, and transportation of hydrogen and bioethanol have been made; and the current problems and potential solutions for the three stages have been summarized. Finally, the prospections on hydrogen and bioethanol could be expect optimistically.     

Barriers to energy efficiency in shipping: A triangulated approach to investigate the principal agent problem

Energy efficiency is a key policy strategy to meet some of the challenges being faced today and to plan for a sustainable future. Numerous empirical studies in various sectors suggest that there are cost-effective measures that are available but not always implemented due to existence of barriers to energy efficiency. Several cost-effective energy efficient options (technologies for new and existing ships and operations) have also been identified for improving energy efficiency of ships. This paper is one of the first to empirically investigate barriers to energy efficiency in the shipping industry using a novel framework and multidisciplinary methods to gauge implementation of cost-effective measures, perception on barriers and observations of barriers. It draws on findings of a survey conducted of shipping companies, content analysis of shipping contracts and analysis of energy efficiency data. Initial results from these methods suggest the existence of the principal agent problem and other market failures and barriers that have also been suggested in other sectors and industries. Given this finding, policies to improve implementation of energy efficiency in shipping need to be carefully considered to improve their efficacy and avoid unintended consequences.     

Heuristics for solving continuous berth allocation problem considering periodic balancing utilization of cranes

This study investigates a berth allocation problem considering the periodic balancing utilization of quay cranes in container terminals. The proposed model considers that the quay cranes allocated to a work shift should be fully used and other real-world considerations, such as the continuous quay line, the penalties for early arrivals and departure delays. To solve the model, several heuristics are developed: the model for large problems is decomposed into sub-models that are solved by rolling-horizon heuristics; neighborhood search heuristics are used for optimizing a berthing order of vessels; parallel computing is used to improve the algorithmic performance. The method performs well when applied to real-world large-scale instances with promising computation time that is linearly related to the number of vessels.     

Expression of the transportation of corrosive media into epoxy coating using nano-indentation

Nano-hardness (H_nano) and nano-elastic modulus (E_nano) of corroded coating surface layer were investigated using nano-indentation after epoxy coated specimens were immersed in 5% NaCl solution. The penetration depths (d) of corrosive media into epoxy coating were calculated fitting the curves of (H/E)_nano vs. indentation depth (h). EIS spectra of epoxy coated specimens immersed in 5% NaCl solution for different time were measured. Finally the relationship of capacitance (C_f,T) of corroded epoxy coating with the penetration depth of corrosive media was studied. The experimental results showed that the transportation process of corrosive media into epoxy coating was studied through the profiles of (H/E)_nano with indentation depth. The penetration depth of corrosive media into the epoxy coating increases rapidly with immersed time firstly, and then increases slowly. The capacitance of corroded epoxy coating has a linear function relationship with the penetration depth of corrosive media into epoxy coating. Nano-indentation can be used to study the transportation process of corrosive media into organic coating.     

弯头直角管道顺序输送混油特性的数值模拟

通过多相流模型对成品油管道进行数值模拟,以汽油和柴油作为顺序输送对象,分别就直角弯管向上、直角弯管向下两种工况时研究输送顺序、重力、管径、粘滞力对混油的影响,研究结果表面:当直角弯管向上时前行柴油的混油量小于前行汽油的混油量,当油品运行到竖直管道时,前行柴油比前行汽油油品运行的缓慢,前行柴油混油的倾斜角度大于前行汽油混油的倾斜角度;当直角弯管向下时前行汽油的混油量小于前行柴油的混油量,前行汽油混油的倾斜角度大于前行柴油混油的倾斜角度。通过对比可以看出:直角弯管向上前行柴油时混油运行的最为缓慢。无论是前行汽油还是前行柴油管径越大混油量越小,当管径相等时前行柴油比前行汽油的混油长。该数值模拟与管道实际结果相一致。     

液化天然气储罐翻滚事故分析

随着世界能源紧缺现状的出现,天然气工业在我国的不断发展,液化天然气成为了一种成效卓著的储运方式,那么,随乊而来的便是液化天然气的安全问题,分层、翻滚是液化天然气在储存过程中有可能出现的一种极其危险的事故现象。通过FLUENT模拟软件对LNG储罐中不同物性参数的液化天然气在罐体漏热情况下进行数值模拟,在此乊前通过计算对大型LNG储罐漏热进行求解,将计算得到的热流密度近似取成10W/m2,以此作为模拟时边界条件的罐壁、罐底漏热量,模拟得出翻滚发生的开始和结束时间,最后通过翻滚发生持续时间计算仅翻滚时所造成的LNG损失,约334 t,翻滚发生前,储罐内的气相空间压力梯度约为32 kPa/h,仅约20 min便会使储罐内正常操作压力超出安全阀设定压力。由此可见,液化天然气翻滚事故的发生不仅会造成液化天然气本身的一大浪费,同时也会对人身及财产安全构成巨大威胁,因此,深入研究LNG翻滚对社会发展具有深远意义。