Issue 6 (Special Issue) [December]

( Papers that were presented in "The Energy and Environment Knowledge Week –E2KW 2013- Conference" in Toledo )

Editorial

Synthesis, characterisation and catalytic performance of Cu- and Co-modified Fe-Al co-precipitated catalysts for the steam reforming of ethanol

Souza G. Ruoso C. Marcilio N.R. Perez-Lopez O.W., Pages:1111-1120

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30955/gnj.001483

Paper Topic:

Sustainable Energy

Issue:

Issue 6

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Abstract

This paper reports the synthesis and the investigation of the properties and performance of Fe-Al catalysts modified with Cu or Co for the steam reforming of ethanol. The materials were prepared by the precipitation method with different Fe/Al ratios. The samples were characterised by the S_BET, TG/DTG, XRD, H₂-TPR and TPO/DTA analyses. The increase in the Fe/Al ratio leads to a decrease in the specific surface area and shifts the reduction peaks towards higher temperatures. The partial substitution of Fe by Co or Cu modifies the structure of the materials because higher specific surface areas and crystallites of iron oxides with smaller sizes are formed. The promotion also improves the reducibility of the iron species. These changes provide higher activity and selectivity towards H₂ and CO for the modified samples and for the samples with lower Fe/Al ratio. The Co-containing catalyst showed the best performance because this sample exhibited the highest conversions and selectivity towards both H₂ and CO and the lowest formation of coke according to the TPO analysis.

CFD simulation of multiphase flow in an airlift column photobioreactor

Samira García Edgardo Paternina Oscar R. Pupo Antonio Bula Leonardo Di Mare , Pages:1121-1134

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30955/gnj.001478

Paper Topic:

Sustainable Energy

Issue:

Issue 6

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Abstract

A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation using CFX, ANSYS 11.0, has been carried out using a multiphase flow model with an Eulerian-Eulerian approach for an airlift column photobioreactors (PBR). Transient simulations were performed for three inlet air flow, 2, 3 and 5 l/min. The contours for gas holdup, air and water velocity showed that the presence of gas phase (air bubbles) is lower in the downcomer but larger in the riser, which leads to require a vigorous mixing in the riser that will be sufficient for a continuous flow. For air, velocity vectors show that they are smaller in the downcomer than in the riser. Nevertheless, water velocity vectors are organized, pointing down in the downcomer and up in the riser. Water shear stress rate contours analysis showed that, shear stress rate regions are considerably larger in the riser, but lower in the downcomer. Due to fewer restrictions to the liquid phase in the riser, a large amount of energy is dissipated by gas liquid interactions. In the downcomer region, gas phase is almost inexistent, and so are the bubble collisions. Finally, the kinetic energy is larger at the top region of the riser, meanwhile is lower at the downcomer. Similar results are observed for energy dissipation rate.

Wind energy location prediction between meteorological stations using ANN

Maran P.S., Ponnusamy R., Venkatesan R. and Bing A.B. , Pages:1135-1144

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30955/gnj.001462

Paper Topic:

Sustainable Energy

Issue:

Issue 6

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Abstract

Wind Energy is one of the important sources of renewable energy. There is a need to prepare the availability of wind energy in the area where there is no measured wind speed data. For this type of situation, it seems to be necessary to predict the wind energy potential using such as wind speed using artificial neural network (ANN) method. Soft computing techniques are widely used now days in the study of wind energy potential estimation. In this study the wind energy potential between neighborhood meteorological tower stations is predicted using Artificial Neural Network technique. One of the most suitable areas of Tamil Nadu for wind power generation is some locations in the districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari, Theni, Coimbatore, and Dindigul. Along the southeast coastline of Tamil Nadu there are no valleys and mountains besides the mountains are situated away from the sea coast in many regions. Therefore, these regions are exposed to northerly winds that are not as strong as the southerly winds.

Combustion of biofuels-diesel blends in an isothermal oven

Toledo M., Jiménez J., Cárdenas L., Gers R., Espinoza J., Pages:1145-1151

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30955/gnj.001448

Paper Topic:

Sustainable Energy

Issue:

Issue 6

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Abstract

In this work, combustion process of diesel and biofuel blends is studied experimentally in an isothermal oven. Blends with respectively 20%, 40% and 60% of Ethanol (E20, E40, E60), 20%, 40% and 60% of Methanol (M20, M40, M60), and 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of Biodiesel (B20, B40, B60, B80, B100), are comparatively analyzed focusing on wall temperature of the isothermal oven and emissions products from combustion. It is found that wall temperature drops with biodiesel content in blends and is higher compared with pure diesel, whatever the content of biodiesel. For diesel-ethanol and diesel-methanol blends the wall temperature is less than pure diesel. Unburned HCs and NO_X emissions are very low for all blends and CO emissions increase with higher ethanol and methanol blends.

For industrial applications that need high temperature (as drying, cooking, sterilization, others) the combustion of diesel-biodiesel blends are recommended.

Optimization of Solar Energy for Salt Extraction from Lake Katwe, Uganda

Hillary Kasedde Joseph D. Lwanyaga John Baptist Kirabira Matthaus U. Babler, Pages:1152-1168

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30955/gnj.001367

Paper Topic:

Sustainable Energy

Issue:

Issue 6

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Abstract

The solar evaporative crystallization process at Lake Katwe was studied using brine evaporation rates, thermal, convection, and radiation energy losses as well as reported meteorological data around the salt lake basin. A simulation model of a salt pan was developed on a lumped basis to study its behaviour with the effects of the different factors affecting the evaporation process investigated. Moreover, an analysis to assess the possibility of increased productivity of the salt pans through implementation of parabolic solar collector technology to enhance brine evaporation was done. Results showed that the brine evaporation rates and temperature of the salt pan are strongly influenced by in-situ weather conditions. Furthermore, a thermal-fluid analysis of the proposed system showed that the pond solution layer temperature increases thereby increasing the evaporation flux hence leading to increased salt production rate.

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Issue 6 (Special Issue) [December]

Synthesis, characterisation and catalytic performance of Cu- and Co-modified Fe-Al co-precipitated catalysts for the steam reforming of ethanol

CFD simulation of multiphase flow in an airlift column photobioreactor

Wind energy location prediction between meteorological stations using ANN

Combustion of biofuels-diesel blends in an isothermal oven

Optimization of Solar Energy for Salt Extraction from Lake Katwe, Uganda

Pages

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Issue 6 (Special Issue) [December]

Synthesis, characterisation and catalytic performance of Cu- and Co-modified Fe-Al co-precipitated catalysts for the steam reforming of ethanol

CFD simulation of multiphase flow in an airlift column photobioreactor

Wind energy location prediction between meteorological stations using ANN

Combustion of biofuels-diesel blends in an isothermal oven

Optimization of Solar Energy for Salt Extraction from Lake Katwe, Uganda

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