What are the challenges of setting up a biomass fueled dimethylether plant in Växjö?

The main challenges of setting up a 400 kt y^?1 biomass fueled dimethylether plant in the city of Växjö consist not only of evaluating social and economic impact but also exploring ways to initiate and develop the market for DME. One way of initiating and developing the market for DME is by mixing DME with LPG. In the longer perspective, DME can be a substitute to diesel which, however, requires a consistent orchestrated strategy. For the raw material situation it is indicated that the main bulk of logging residues and stumps can be obtained near the city and to a lesser extent from adjacent regions supplemented with marginal imports. The employment effects are considerable; a positive net effect of 550–750 full-time jobs is expected. The geographical localization of jobs will to a large extent be in or near Växjö (for operation of the plant), and nearby regions (for collection of raw material and transports).     

Catalytic activities of non-noble metals for hydrogen generation from aqueous ammonia–borane at room temperature

We have studied catalytic performance of supported non-noble metals for hydrogen generation from aqueous NH₃BH₃ at room temperature. Among the tested non-noble metals, supported Co, Ni and Cu are the most catalytically active, with which hydrogen is released with an almost stoichiometric amount from aqueous NH₃BH₃, whereas supported Fe is catalytically inactive for this reaction. Support effects on the catalytic activity have been investigated by testing the hydrogen generation reaction in the presence of Co supported on γ-Al₂O₃, SiO₂ and C and it is found that the Co/C catalyst has higher activity. Activation energy for hydrogen generation from aqueous NH₃BH₃ in the presence of Co/γ-Al₂O₃ was measured to be 62 kJ mol⁻¹; this may correspond to the step of BN bond breaking. Particle size, surface morphology and surface area of the supported metal catalysts were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and BET experiments. It is found that with decreasing the particle size the activity of the supported catalyst is increased. The low-cost and high-performance supported non-noble metal catalysts may have high potential to find its application to the hydrogen generation for portable fuel cells.     

China׳s precarious synthetic natural gas demonstration

In 2013, China׳s national government abandoned its previous cautious policy and started to promote large-scale deployment of coal-based synthetic natural gas (SNG). Coal-based SNG is both carbon-intensive and very water-intensive. Driven by a smog crisis and the recession of coal industry, China׳s 2013 policy change is major setback in its long-term efforts in carbon mitigation and water conservation. The government of China made the policy change before the commercial commencement of China׳s first SNG demonstration plant. Since the commencement of China׳s SNG demonstration plant, many problems have started to appear. In this article, I discuss the nature of demonstration project and explain the danger in starting a crash program without evaluating the demonstration comprehensively and transparently.     

Packed-bed thermal storage for concentrated solar power – Pilot-scale demonstration and industrial-scale design

A thermal energy storage system, consisting of a packed bed of rocks as storing material and air as high-temperature heat transfer fluid, is analyzed for concentrated solar power (CSP) applications. A 6.5 MWh_th pilot-scale thermal storage unit immersed in the ground and of truncated conical shape is fabricated and experimentally demonstrated to generate thermoclines. A dynamic numerical heat transfer model is formulated for separate fluid and solid phases and variable thermo-physical properties in the range of 20–650 °C, and validated with experimental results. The validated model is further applied to design and simulate an array of two industrial-scale thermal storage units, each of 7.2 GWh_th capacity, for a 26 MW_el round-the-clock concentrated solar power plant during multiple 8 h-charging/16 h-discharging cycles, yielding 95% overall thermal efficiency.     

Cost–benefit analysis of a photovoltaic power plant

This work evaluates the energy generated by photovoltaic generators with different mounting angles to the horizontal plane, and the optimum angle is estimated. Other aspects considered are the costs and legal framework associated with installing a photovoltaic power plant in Santa Fe, Argentina. After having done a cost–benefit analysis under different scenarios, results showing the feasibility of building a photovoltaic power plant were obtained. However, the assessment of costs shows that the rates set by Act 26190 need to be modified in order to increase its feasibility in the location studied.     

Hydrocarbon plant—New source of energy for future

The development of alternative sources for energy and chemicals, particularly the use of plant biomass as a renewable source for fuel or chemical feedstocks, has received much recent attention. This paper attempts to review the work carried out by many workers on evaluation of some plant materials as source of energy and chemical feedstocks and the possibilities of producing hydrocarbon and related chemical products, directly or indirectly. Also an exploratory work carried out at Regional Research Laboratory, Jorhat is discussed. Some future directions, which need to be considered to promote development of these petrocrops, are suggested.     

Economic analysis of a combined energy–methanol production plant

The large-scale combined production of methanol and electricity from natural gas is simulated and evaluated from an economic point of view. Both capital and operating costs are considered. The proposed solution is based on steam methane reforming and consists of an once-through methanol synthesis followed by a power plant in which the unreacted gases are burned. Electricity is produced in a combined-cycle plant. It is supposed to add the energy production unit to an already existing methanol plant without decreasing the methanol production. The economic analysis shows that, given the low natural gas price in the Saudi Arabia context, the combined production ensures an increased annual revenue that allows a reasonable payout time for the added energy plant.     

V/V0变压器-高压钠灯节电照明系统

城市路灯用电量比较大,在不影响深夜道路照明的前提下,适当降低加在路灯上的电压,节电效果明显,经测算,节电率达为16．1％～17．4％。推出一种路灯自动降压控制器,控制V／V0专用路灯变压器的零线自动开断而降压节电。     

Pressurized thermal shock screening criteria re-evaluation effort — US industry activities

A joint project is under way between the US nuclear power industry and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to re-evaluate the pressurized thermal shock (PTS) screening criteria as presently defined in title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 50.61. Advances in probabilistic risk assessment (PRA), probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM), thermal hydraulics (TH), and overall plant risk assessment are being incorporated into a comprehensive program to establish a technical basis for revising the present screening criteria. US industry activities are being coordinated through the Reactor Pressure Vessel Integrity Issue Task Group (RPV Integrity ITG) of the EPRI Materials Reliability Project (MRP). The EPRI MRP was formed in 1998 to identify and address issues that could affect operability of major components in pressurized water reactor (PWR) plants. Major activities are coordinated with the nuclear steam supply system (NSSS) vendors, the vendor owner's groups, The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and the NRC. The MRP provides for a unified industry approach to resolution of technical and regulatory issues related to PWR materials degradation. A major task under the Reactor Pressure Vessel Integrity Issue Task Group (RPV Integrity ITG) is to support industry activities associated with the pressurized PTS re-evaluation effort. This paper provides a brief overview of the EPRI MRP program, the RPV Integrity ITG, and industry activities associated with the PTS re-evaluation effort.     

Investigation on Ti–Zr–Cr–Fe–V based alloys for metal hydride hydrogen compressor at moderate working temperatures

Ti_0.85Zr_0.17Cr_1.2-xFe_0.8V_x (x = 0–0.2), Ti_0.85Zr_0.17Cr_1.2-yFe_0.7+yV_0.1 (y = 0–0.25) and Ti_0.87-zZr_0.15+zCr_0.95Fe_0.95V_0.1 (z = 0–0.04) alloys for metal hydride hydrogen compressor at moderate working temperatures were prepared by induction levitation melting. Their microstructures and hydrogen storage properties were systematically investigated. The results show that all Ti–Zr–Cr–Fe–V based alloys have a single C14 Laves phase structure. As the V content in the Ti_0.85Zr_0.17Cr_1.2-xFe_0.8V_x (x = 0–0.2) alloys increases, better activation kinetics and larger hydrogen storage capacity are achieved, while the plateau pressure decreases and the plateau slope factor increases. Similarly, the hydrogen storage capacity, the plateau pressure and the plateau slope factor of the Ti_0.87-zZr_0.15+zCr_0.95Fe_0.95V_0.1 (z = 0–0.04) alloys vary identically with Zr content increasing. Conversely, these three properties vary oppositely with increasing Fe content in the Ti_0.85Zr_0.17Cr_1.2-yFe_0.7+yV_0.1 (y = 0–0.25) alloys. Among the studied alloys, Ti_0.85Zr_0.17Cr_0.95Fe_0.95V_0.1 possesses the best overall properties for the designed moderate hydrogen compression application.     

分享“V”体验——HTC One V的社交时代

网络社交已经成为时尚达人不可或缺的生活方式,手机也开始不断地加入流行社交元素。相对于水货版本而言,国内上市的HTC One V增设了专为新浪微博而生的微博键,让我们的微博D不加“V”,也能获得尊崇的体验。     

Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy modeling for three-phase micro hydropower plant prototype

Micro hydropower plants (MHPP) are widely set up in off-grid sites to provide electrical power. The power quality in such site is a challenge and requires an accurate model for MHPP. The model has to be available for large operating points. Moreover, the model must take into consideration the non-linear character of the system. For these reasons, the present paper proposes a Takagi–Sugeno (T.S) fuzzy model approach for modeling the overall behavior of a three-phase MHPP prototype. This modeling is based on the identification of simple approximations by first and second order systems around several operating points of the system. These operating points depend on different water flows and electric load variations. The developed T.S fuzzy models were experimentally validated taking into consideration various working conditions. The results show that the approximation by the second order system has better accordance with the real system responses. Therefore, this approximation devotes more opportunities to synthesize suitable and robust controllers for MHPP compared to the first order one.     

新泻V16FX和V26FX高速船用柴油机

在日本，高速船舶运输近年来呈现出一派十分活跃的景象．新泻铁工所开发了两种结构紧凑、质量小的高速大功率柴油机，即V16FX（缸径165mm，行程185mm）和V26FX（缸径26omm，行程275mm）型机，二者均适合用作高速船舶主机。16V16FX型机的持续功率为2023kV1950min－1（P=1．97MPa），18V26FX型机的持续功率为5149kV/1150min－1（P=2．04MPa）；前者的比功率为2．7kg/kW，而后者为4．8kg/kw。在这两种机型的研制过程中，作者进行了应力、热流分析和主要零部件等多项试验，以达到重量轻、功率大的性能指标．本文着重介绍V16FX型机的上述分析与功能试验工作。     

Substitutional V–Pd alloys for the membranes permeable to hydrogen: Hydrogen solubility at 150–400 °C

The development of non-palladium membrane for separation of hydrogen from gas mixtures is one of critical challenges of hydrogen energy. Vanadium based materials are most promising for such membranes. The alloying of pure vanadium is crucially important for reduction of hydrogen solubility to an optimal value. Solution of hydrogen in substitutional V-xPd alloys (x = 5, 7.3, 9.7, 12.3, 18.8 at%) was investigated. The pressure–composition-isotherms were obtained in the range of pressure (10–10⁶) Pa, temperature (150–400) °С and concentration of hydrogen, H/M, from 4·10⁻⁴ to 0.6. The alloying of vanadium with palladium was found to reduce the hydrogen solubility substantially greater than the alloying with other elements, e.g. by Ni and Cr. The hydrogen absorption in the V–Pd alloys obeyed Siverts' law including the range of undiluted solution with hydrogen concentration H/M > 0.1. The reduction in the hydrogen solubility due to the alloying of V with Pd was caused mainly by increase in the enthalpy of solution at nearly constant entropy factor. Changes in the gross electronic structure of metal are most probably responsible for the effects of alloying on the hydrogen solubility in the substitutional V–Pd alloys.     

Economic analysis of a typical solar–coal hybrid power plant

Since the 1990s, solar energy has been hybridized with fossil power plants to improve reliability and efficiency. This study proposed an economical model for the solar–coal hybrid system. A conventional 200 MW coal-fired power plant was hybridized with solar heat at approximately 300°C and compared with a typical solar-only thermal power plant. The annual thermal performances of the proposed system were estimated and they were economically assessed using the economic model. The appropriate replacement configurations for the system can be determined for lower solar electricity cost. Therefore, this system may utilize solar energy on the utility scale cost-effectively.     

Sulfur–Iodine plant for large scale hydrogen production by nuclear power

The Sulfur–Iodine (S_I) cycle, driven by nuclear power, seems to be one of the main candidates to produce hydrogen on a large scale. A new S_I process flowsheet is proposed, set up at CEA and simulated by ProSim code and, based on that, data and results on the coupling of the thermochemical plant with a Very High Temperature Nuclear Reactor (VHTR) are presented. The scale up to industrial level, the conceptual design and cost estimation of the plant are then presented and discussed. In order to support a high temperature aggressive environment, well established chemical engineering methods as well as non traditional materials, devices and technologies have been selected. The influence of the adopted technology on the H₂ cost has also been investigated and is widely discussed, comparing two different cases. An economic sensitivity analysis carried out by varying the hydrogen production level is presented, showing that an optimum H₂ production exists and, due to relevant heat recovery processes, the minimum cost is not achieved for the maximum allowable H₂ production rate. Finally an optimized layout for the minimum cost plant, set up adopting the pinch technique, is presented leading to a further reduction of H₂ production costs.     

NULIFE – network of excellence for harmonised nuclear plant life management methods

Abstract

The EU's NULIFE (Nuclear Plant Life Prediction) Network of Excellence has been launched under the Euratom FP6 programme. NULIFE's aim is to help to provide a better understanding of the factors affecting the lifetime of nuclear power plants. Together with associated management methods, this will facilitate extensions to the safe and economic lifetime of existing nuclear power plant. NULIFE will also contribute to the development of design criteria for future generations of nuclear power plant. Led by VTT, the five-year project has a total budget in excess of €8m, with partners drawn from leading research institutions, technical support organisations, power companies and manufacturers throughout Europe.