Techno-economic feasibility assessment of sorption enhanced gasification of municipal solid waste for hydrogen production

Waste-to-fuel coupled with carbon capture and storage is forecasted to be an effective way to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the waste sent to landfill and, simultaneously, reduce the dependence of fossil fuels. This study evaluated the techno-economic feasibility of sorption enhanced gasification, which involves in-situ CO₂ capture, and benchmarked it with the conventional steam gasification of municipal solid waste for H₂ production. The impact of a gate fee and tax levied on the fossil CO₂ emissions in economic feasibility was assessed. The results showed that the hydrogen production was enhanced in sorption enhanced gasification, that achieved an optimum H₂ production efficiency of 48.7% (T = 650 °C and SBR = 1.8). This was 1.0% points higher than that of the conventional steam gasification (T = 900 °C and SBR = 1.2). However, the total efficiency, which accounts for H₂ production and net power output, for sorption enhanced gasification was estimated to be 49.3% (T = 650 °C and SBR = 1.8). This was 4.4% points lower than the figure estimated for the conventional gasification (T = 900 °C and SBR = 1.2). The economic performance assessment showed that the sorption enhanced gasification will result in a significantly higher levelised cost of hydrogen (5.0 €/kg) compared to that estimated for conventional steam gasification (2.7 €/kg). The levelised cost of hydrogen can be reduced to 4.5 €/kg on an introduction of the gate fee of 40.0 €/t_MSW. The cost of CO₂ avoided was estimated to be 114.9 €/tCO₂ (no gate fee and tax levied). However, this value can be reduced to 90.1 €/tCO₂ with the introduction of an emission allowance price of 39.6 €/tCO₂. Despite better environmental performance, the capital cost of sorption enhanced gasification needs to be reduced for this technology to become competitive with mature gasification technologies.     

Hierarchical multi-reservoir optimization modeling for real-world complexity with application to the Three Gorges system

High dimensionality in real-world multi-reservoir systems greatly hinders the application and popularity of evolutionary algorithms, especially for systems with heterogeneous units. An efficient hierarchical optimization framework is presented for search space reduction, determining the best water distributions, not only between cascade reservoirs, but also among different types of hydropower units. The framework is applied to the Three Gorges Project (TGP) system and the results demonstrate that the difficulties of multi-reservoir optimization caused by high dimensionality can be effectively solved by the proposed hierarchical method. For the day studied, power output could be increased by 6.79 GWh using an optimal decision with the same amount of water actually used; while the same amount of power could be generated with 2.59 × 10⁷ m³ less water compared to the historical policy. The methodology proposed is general in that it can be used for other reservoir systems and other types of heterogeneous unit generators.     

Modelling,simulation and identification of an engine air path electromechanical actuator

This paper deals with the modelling and the identification of an electromechanical Diesel engine actuator. The studied Bosch GPA-S actuator is designed for swirl/tumble flaps to control the air amount entering into the cylinder. This study aims to design a complete simulator that reproduces, with sufficient accuracy, the actuator dynamics taking into account the effects of the friction phenomenon. Hence, an overview of the actuator structure and its operation principle is first given. Then, its mathematical model as well as the nonlinearity, related to its behaviour, is discussed. Next, three identification procedures, which allow estimating both the system parameters and the friction model coefficients, are introduced. Finally, simulation results, using MATLAB, and experimental results, using LabVIEW, are presented demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed techniques.     

Mathematical modelling and numerical simulation of ordered porosity metal materials formation

Ordered porosity metal materials belong to a relatively new class of porous materials named gasars. This paper presents a mathematical model of the complex physical phenomena in the production of gasars. Analyses for heat transfer, solidification kinetics and gas diffusion were coupled to describe the formation of unique gasar structure. Several criterial functions were introduced to provide significant quantitative information about the relationship between the operating technological parameters and the final structure. The computational outcomes of the numerical simulation were compared with the characteristics of real gasar ingots. The model was applied to determine the boundary conditions that would provide approximately constant physical conditions on the solidification front. The structure sensitiveness of gasars with respect to the different technological parameters is discussed.     

A new approach to modelling of single droplet drying

A model was developed to predict the change in droplet mass and temperature when it is exposed to hot air, as in spray drying of droplets containing solids. The droplet was assumed first to undergo sensible rapid heating with no mass change. Then the droplet experiences some shrinkage, with no temperature change but rapid mass losses, followed by a period of crust formation with a significant change in droplet mass and temperature and finally a short period of sensible heating of the dried particle. The model, unlike previous models, accounts for shrinkage and for the temperature distribution in the droplet. It provided a good prediction for the change in droplet temperature and mass for some of the experimental measurements available in the literatures.     

三峡三期工程主坝大体积混凝土内部温度控制

三峡右岸三期工程施工中,为了有效控制坝体大体积混凝土内部温升,采取了高温季节使用预冷混凝土浇筑、控制混凝土出机口温度及浇筑温度、对混凝土内部人工通水进行初冷、中冷和后冷等措施。三峡三期工程大坝混凝土内部温度没有出现超标现象,混凝土温控工作取得了良好的效果。     

工程建设的新特点与中国三峡总公司的可持续发展

本文介绍了三峡工程进入2002年后工程建设的新特点,并对工程下一步两个重点项目三期截流和碾压混凝土围堰的技术难点和工期安排做了深入分析。另外,作者根据国家电力体制改革的重要内容,以及中国三峡总公司自身情况,对公司未来的可持续发展之路亦做了深入探讨。借助中国三峡总公司的品牌优势和资本实力,吸收其它形式的能源,优化能源结构;进一步降低工程造价,提高三峡电价在电力市场的竞争力;依靠科学管理,实现电力生产利润最大化,深化内部改革等措施,促进中国三峡总公司可持续发展。     

三峡水库减淤增容调度方式研究——多汛限水位调度方案

本文建议在汛期中小流量时（Q<35000m3/s），将坝前水位维持在148～151m；出现汛情且流量更较大后，将坝前水位降低到143m；入库流量大于35000m3/s且短期预报将出现大于十年一遇洪水时，预泄洪水到135m.按这一调度，汛期约80％时间可以维持在较高水位，一般洪水期。汛限水位143m不影响坝区通航，135m水位迎洪可大量增加防洪库客。到100年后可减淤30亿m3，增加防洪库容约40亿m3.变动回水区减淤40%，优化了坝区水沙搭配，可改善通航条件。降低库区洪水位，缓解防洪与移民的矛盾。可对发电带来较大好处：提高发电效益，减少粗沙过机。初期水库排沙比大于原方案，可减轻下游冲刷。同时，可减小三峡汛初泄水与鄱阳湖防洪的矛盾。     

The availability of daylight from tropical skies—a case study of Malaysia

In Malaysia, no long-term daylight data are measured. It was only recently that the need to measure the availability of daylight became urgent when the importance of daylighting in buildings was rediscovered. The hourly daylight availability has been simulated for the Malaysian sky using daylight modelling techniques based on empirical and measured solar irradiation and cloud cover data. This paper presents the techniques involved in producing exterior illuminance data. These data were then compared with measured illuminance at Shah Alam and Bangi, Malaysia. The global illuminance levels are generally high, with values exceeding 80,000 lux at noon during the months when solar irradiation is highest. Even during the months when the ground receives less solar irradiation, the peak illuminance can reach 60,000 lux. Applications and uses of such data are in daylighting design, both for visual and thermal comfort, task illuminance and energy-conscious design of buildings. Recommendations are made at the end of the paper on the various climatic data that are required to be measured for overall daylighting design applications.     

三峡地下电站变顶高尾水洞水动力特性

在国内首次应用模型水轮发电机组对三峡地下电站变顶高尾水洞方案进行水力过渡过程试验研究。对水轮机导叶实行分段关闭 ,并求出了二段关闭的最佳拐点 ,试验证实了二段关闭对减小尾水管进口的负压和机组转速上升有明显的作用。通过有关水力参数的测试 ,认为变顶高尾水洞可以满足各项技术要求 ,是一个减少山体开挖、节省投资的新型设计方案。在地下电站中具有广泛的应用前景