Palm kernel shell as fuel for burning bricks

The use of an agricultural waste product, palm kernel shell, as a fuel for firing bricks is explored as a means of reducing environmental degradation and depletion of scarce firewood in Ghana. A simple but efficient methodology of clamp firing bricks using the new fuel is developed and tested. The resulting bricks are analysed for physical properties and suitability for construction use. The viability of palm kernel shell as a fuel for small-scale brick industries is considered. On etudie actuellement au Ghana les possibilites d'utilisation d'un dechet agricole, en l'occurrence, les coquilles de noix de palme, comme combustible dans les briqueteries; une telle solution permettrait de reduire la degradation de l'environnement et de diminuer l'appauvrissement des maigres reserves en bois de chauffage du pays. A cet effet, on met au point une methodologie simple mais efficace de cuisson des briques en brulant des dechets de coquilles de noix de palme. On analyse les proprietes physiques de ces briques et on verifie qu'elles conviennent a la construction. On etudie la viabilite de la coquille de noix de palme pour l'alimentation en combustible des petites briqueteries.     

Fuel Switching in the Electricity Sector under the EU ETS: Review and Prospective

The European Union has implemented the European Union emission trading scheme (EU ETS) as an instrument to facilitate greenhouse gas (GHG) emission abatement stipulated in the Kyoto protocol. Empirical data show that in the early stages of the EU ETS, the value of a ton of CO2 has already led to emission abatement through switching from coal to gas in the European electric power sector. In the second part of this paper, an electricity generation simulation model is used to perform simulations on the switching behavior in both the first and the second trading periods of the EU ETS. In 2005, the reduction in GHG emissions in the electric power sector due to EU ETS is estimated close to 88?Mton. For the second trading period, a European Union allowance (EUA) price dependent GHG reduction curve has been determined. The obtained switching potential turns out to be significant, up to 300?Mton/year, at sufficiently high EUA prices.     

Performance and Evaluation of Cu‐based Nano‐composite Anodes for Direct Utilisation of Hydrocarbon Fuels in SOFCs

The anodes for direct utilisation of hydrocarbon fuels have been developed by using Cu/Ceria‐based nano‐composite powders. The CuO/GDC/YSZ–YSZ or CuO/GDC‐GDC nano‐composite powders were synthesised by coating nano‐sized CuO and CeO₂ particles on the YSZ or GDC core particles selectively by the Pechini process. Their microstructures and electrical properties have been investigated with long‐term stability in reactive gases of dry methane and air. The anodes fabricated using Cu‐based nano‐composite anodes showed almost no carbon deposition until 500 h in dry CH₄ atmosphere. The type of an electrolyte‐supported single cell in conjunction with the Cu/Ceria‐based anode must be selected together for the low melting temperature of Cu/CuO. The GDC electrolyte supported unit cell with the Cu/GDC–GDC anode showed the maximum power density of 0.1 Wcm^–2 and long‐term stability for more than 500 h under electronic load of 0.05 Acm^–2 at 650 °C in dry methane atmosphere.     

Achieving California's 80% greenhouse gas reduction target in 2050: Technology,policy and scenario analysis using CA-TIMES energy economic systems model

The CA-TIMES optimization model of the California Energy System (v1.5) is used to understand how California can meet the 2050 targets for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (80% below 1990 levels). This model represents energy supply and demand sectors in California and simulates the technology and resource requirements needed to meet projected energy service demands. The model includes assumptions on policy constraints, as well as technology and resource costs and availability. Multiple scenarios are developed to analyze the changes and investments in low-carbon electricity generation, alternative fuels and advanced vehicles in transportation, resource utilization, and efficiency improvements across many sectors. Results show that major energy transformations are needed but that achieving the 80% reduction goal for California is possible at reasonable average carbon reduction cost ($9 to $124/tonne CO₂e at 4% discount rate) relative to a baseline scenario. Availability of low-carbon resources such as nuclear power, carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), biofuels, wind and solar generation, and demand reduction all serve to lower the mitigation costs, but CCS is a key technology for achieving the lowest mitigation costs.     

The energy demand and the impact by fossil fuels use in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area, from 1988 to 2000

Temporary variation for the demand of refining products which are used in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) is presented. Its consequent energy contribution is evaluated from 1988 to 2000. The annual estimation was integrated from a detailed inventory of fuels volume, so as the calculus of its respective energy equivalence. The fuel quality specifications, which have been required by regional Air Quality authority for controlling emissions to the atmosphere, are also presented for the same period. The evolution demand of fuels, in term of volume, quality and its energy contribution for this area, is compared with the national demand. On this regard, fuel pool differs in each bound and the demand along the same period has been increasing on both regions but at different rates, with 21% at MCMA and 31% countrywide. In 2000, the MCMA demanded 14% of the internal refining products volume sales, which represented 17% of the energy contribution to the country for those fuels. Likewise, the energy use coefficient (GJ per capita) was applied to compare this region with country trends. During 1996 and up to 2000, the MCMA presented slightly minor energy use per capita, than the rest of the country, and this period was distinguished also for using cleaner fuels and for obtaining improvements in air quality. On the other hand, MCMA and country greenhouse gases emissions will increase because of their fossil fuel dependence, so several mitigation measures must be implemented in the next decades.     

火花点火缸内直喷灵活燃料发动机的开发

对一台采用火花点火、缸内直喷、周向分层燃烧系统的发动机在燃用甲醇、乙醇和汽油时系统参数进行优化,获得系统燃用这三种燃料时各自的最优参数。根据优化结果不同的参数对发动机性能影响的程度进行折中,获得灵活燃料发动机的系统参数,实现了在不改动发动机的前提下灵活燃用此三种燃料。发动机性能研究表明：由于采用分层燃烧,灵活燃料发动机具有与直喷柴油机相当的热效率,在负荷特性上,燃用醇类燃料和汽油时的NOx排放分别仅为柴油机的10％～40％和21％～78％,CO排放低于1％,HC排放略高于柴油机,燃用醇类燃料时可实现无烟燃烧,燃用汽油时仅在高负荷运转时存在少许碳烟。     

Performance limitations in electric power generating systems imposed by high temperature corrosion

The increasing cost of fuel has resulted in a renewed interest in improving the efficiency of electric power generating equipment. In most cases, this involves increasing the maximum temperature in the cycle. Examples include the increase in gas turbine inlet temperatures, the increase in steam temperature and pressure in boilers and the move towards higher temperature gasification in combined-cycle plants. In all these cases, the limits are set by the properties of the available materials. Among these limiting properties, the high temperature corrosion resistance ofmetals and alloys is vel}' significant.

High temperature oxidation rates set an absolute limit, but there are processes which can lead to accelerated corrosion, often associated with impurities in the fuel or air, which lower the available temperatures still further. A number of specific cases are discussed, the underlying principles are outlined and methods of overcoming the various problems are suggested.     

High temperature technology

An attempt has been made to outline the areas where progress in various aspects of high temperature technology would produce significant industrial advantages. The aspects covered range from the possibilities of using the heat lost by conventional industries through to areas of newer technologies, such as fusion reactors and magnetohydrodynamic power generation, where a breakthrough in high temperature technology would encourage their useas viable commercial systems. The advantages of increased temperatures for greater efficiencies and the possibilities of using lower grade or alternate fuels are discussed together with the problems posed both in materials terms and in terms of the technical limitations of process control.     

Part Load Performance Characteristics of a Low-Heat Rejection Diesel Engine Fueled with Biodiesel

This experimental study focused on improving performance characteristics of a low-heat rejection (LHR) diesel engine operating with biodiesel fuel. To ensure LHR conditions, the cylinder head and valves of the test engine were coated with a Y2O3-ZrO2 (yttria-stabilized zirconia) layer of 0.35?mm thickness over a NiCrAl bond coat of 0.15?mm thickness. The fuel used in the engine tests was produced from sunflower oil with transesterification methods. The engine test results showed that brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and brake thermal efficiency were improved with biodiesel usage and thermal barrier coating (TBC) application. Further, exhaust gas temperature was decreased with use of biodiesel, while it was increased with TBC application.     

Transition Temperatures in Sliding Systems

A pin-on-disk type of apparatus is used to study the effect of operating variables on transition temperatures with dilute solutions of pure fatty acids in pure paraffinic hydrocarbons and with a straight paraffinic mineral oil. It is found that the temperature at which the sudden transition from low to high friction and wear occurs increases with sliding speed, decreases with load, and is otherwise independent of operating variables. Empirically, the reciprocal of the absolute transition temperature varies linearly with the logarithm of the ratio of load to speed. The absence of conventional hydrodynamic lubrication in this system is demonstrated.

It is concluded that these results are inconsistent with the widely accepted concept that boundary lubricants must form a “solid” adsorbed film to be effective. It appears necessary to adopt a modified view of the role of the boundary lubricant, in which rheological and other diverse physical characteristics must be considered, and not simply the state of matter in which it exists. In addition, it appears necessary to consider the interrelated kinetics of boundary film formation and welding between asperities.