Policies to reduce energy use and carbon emissions in the UK

The UK differs from may other industrialized nations in that its carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from energy use have declined in recent years despite relatively rapid economic growth. In all sectors but transport, substantial reductions have already occurred in the level of carbon emissions per unit of GDP output. At the same time, a number of official and unofficial studies have pointed out that the UK has one of the largest remaining potentials amongst comparable industrialized countries for achieving further CO₂ reductions through the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency and fuel switching measures. This paper discusses past and present patterns of energy use and carbons emissions in the UK. The analysis then examines historical trends in UK energy policy and presents policy options for further reducing the UK's energy-use and carbon emissions in the future.     

A storage heat pump using an ‘ozone-friendly’ refrigerant

The paper describes the integration of a chemical and a vapour-compression heat pump for energy storage applications. The vapour-compression system is designed to operate using the UK cheap rate ‘Economy 7’ electricity tariff. The system is characterized thermodynamically using various refrigerant/absorbent pairs in the chemical storage circuit and an ozone-friendly refrigerant, R134a, in the vapour-compression circuit. Results indicate that the H₂O/Na₂S pair provides a high energy storage density and is the most suitable for use in this system. The paper also describes the design features of a domestic-sized version of this heat pump system. Air in the sunspace (conservatory) of a house was used as a heat source for the heat pump.     

The ponding problem on elastic membranes: an analog equation solution

 In this paper, the nonlinear response of elastic membranes with arbitrary shape under partial and full ponding loads has been analyzed. Large deflections are considered, which result from nonlinear kinematic relations. The problem is formulated in terms of the displacements components and the three coupled nonlinear governing equations are solved using the analog equation method (AEM). The membrane may be prestressed either by prescribed boundary displacements or tractions. Using the concept of the analog equation the three coupled nonlinear equations are replaced by three uncoupled Poisson's equations with fictitious sources under the same boundary conditions. Subsequently, the fictitious sources are established using a procedure based on the BEM and the displacement components as well as the stress resultants at any point of the membrane are evaluated from their integral representations. In addition to the geometrical nonlinearity, the ponding problem is itself nonlinear, because the ponding load depends on the deflection surface that it produces. Iterative schemes are developed which converge to the equilibrium state of the membrane under the ponding loads. Several membranes are analyzed which illustrate the method and demonstrate its efficiency and accuracy. The method has all the advantages of the pure BEM, since the discretization and integration is limited only to the boundary. Received 28 July 2001     

Thermal Generation of Residual Stress Fields for Purpose of Distortion Minimization

Thermal treatments of steel components with the goal of hardening often result in distortion by releasing the residual stresses which were brought into the specimen during the preceding processing steps. The goal of the presented work is the minimization of this distortion. By generating definite residual stress fields and investigating the resulting distortion, the distortion mechanism can be observed in detail. A flexible and reproducible way to generate such residual stress fields inside a specimen is by means of local thermal treatment with a laser beam. Computer simulations as well as experiments were carried out using an idealized tooth of a gearwheel (finger sample) as a model system. The deformation of the samples due to the laser heat treatment and the stress fields generated inside the samples were determined with respect to different process parameters.     

Assessment of the energy and exergy utilization efficiencies in the Turkish agricultural sector

This study deals with evaluating the energy and exergy utilization efficiencies in the Turkish agricultural sector over a 12‐year period from 1990 to 2001. In the energy and exergy analyses, two main energy sources, namely fuels and electricity, are taken into consideration, while the sectoral energy and exergy efficiencies are compared for this period. These main energy sources include diesel for tractors and other vehicles, and electricity for pumps. Overall energy utilization efficiencies are obtained to vary between 29.1 and 41.1%, while overall exergy utilization efficiencies are found to range from 27.9 to 37.4% in the analysed years, respectively. It may be concluded that the present technique proposed here may be used as a useful tool in analysing and evaluating the energy and exergy utilization efficiencies, identifying energy efficiency and/or energy conservation opportunities and dictating the energy strategies of countries. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Potential of ground heat source systems

This paper presents a historical background of ground source heat pump technology, followed by a review of its current shortcomings. Based on these observations the author assesses the R&D needs and recommendations for future research.     

Transport and energy in developing countries

The author examines the transport energy consumption of developing countries and compares it with that of developed countries. These figures are found to suggest considerable scope for transport energy savings. Given the need for improved energy efficiency, the author moves on to consider transport in the context of the wider economy. Four broad policy approaches which can affect transport energy consumption are identified — information and training programmes, subsidies; pricing and tax policies; and administrative regulations. The author's primary conclusion is that the energy price changes of the last decade do not hold revolutionary implications for the transport sector. There remains, however, a need to improve efficiency in this sector.     

Investigation of fusion reactions in palladium and titanium tritide using galvanostatic,coulometric, and hydrogen permeation techniques

We describe several electrochemical methods used to investigate the possibility of cold fusion phenomena in palladium and titanium tritide cathodes. We performed long-term (up to 77 days) electrolysis experiments with electrochemical cells of the University of Utah type at current densities as high as 1 A/cm², while monitoring neutron and tritium levels. With some cells, we pulsed the current to determine if neutron bursts would result. In another cell, we used titanium tritide as the cathode to determine if D-T reactions yielding neutrons would occur. In no instance were levels of neutrons or tritium significantly above background except in the titanium tritide cell where isotopic exchange, occcurring between the electrode and the electrolyte, resulted in significant tritium levels. We also combined x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical hydrogen permeation experiments to determine the effectiveness of various Pd surface treatment procedures on the resultant electrochemical hydrogen absorption efficiency. Electroanalytical and thermal desorption/gas analysis techniques indicated the maximum loading of H in Pd was to a ratio of HPd=0.8.     

High resolution XPS characterization of chemical functionalised MWCNTs and SWCNTs

High resolution XPS analysis of chemical functionalised multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) was done with ESCA300 (overall instrument resolution of 0.35 eV). Information to the degree of functionalisation was ascertained by argon ion bombardment of the samples followed by XPS analysis to detect the functional groups, the percentage atomic concentration of various elements present and whether or not the detected functional groups imposed a chemical shift on the CNT atoms. The results show that true chemical functionalisation was achieved and by argon ion bombardment these functional groups can be altered relative to the C 1s carbon atoms of the CNT. The choice of chemicals used for functionalisation, the techniques employed and the types of nanotubes treated are important factors in chemical characterisation. The carbon atom on the nanotube ring to which the functional group (atom) is bonded, the chirality of the CNT, the electronegativity of the functional group, the bond type and whether the CNT is single-wall or multi-wall, or cut (short) could play a role in determining the chemical shift on the CNTs atoms. These investigations are relevant to chemical functionalisation of carbon nanotubes for various applications for example DNA sensors and other biomedical sensors.